Javier García-Rubio

Association between dietary habits and the presence of overweight/obesity in a sample of 21,385 Chilean adolescents

AIM The main aim of the present study was to explore the potential associations between dietary habits and the presence of overweight and obesity in Chilean adolescents. METHODS For the present study dietary habits of 21,385 Chilean students were analyzed and weight and height assessed, in order to determine potential associations between eating patterns and body mass index (BMI) values. RESULTS The majority of participants have lunch and a snack in the afternoon every day a week (81% and 71.2%, respectively), although only a 59.5% have breakfast every day and a 22% have dinner every night. To have breakfast is common for thin and normal weight subjects, but only a half of overweight and obese individuals usually have it. The obese is the group having less dairy products. A 50.2% of all subjects have legumes once or never in a week. Around a 15% have sweets all days and nearly a 50% of all the participants consume fizzy drinks every day of the week. Interestingly, having breakfast was found to be associated with less truancy. CONCLUSIONS Nutritional education strategies should be carried out within students in Chile, since inadequate dietary habits are related to the higher values of BMI.

Effect of match venue, scoring first and quality of opposition on match outcome in the UEFA Champions League

The aim of the present study was twofold. First, to identify the effects of situational variables, which are match location (ML), scoring first (SF) and quality of opposition (QO) all of them simultaneously when considering the minute of the first goal (GM) and the competition stage (CS) in the UCL; and secondly to analyze the match-related statistics when completing and explaining the obtained results. Sample was composed by 475 matches of 2009 to 2013 seasons. Data were analyzed in function of group stage and knockout stage. Regression analysis were used to analyze the effects of situational variables (scoring first, match location, quality of opposition, score differences of the first match and minute when the first goal was scored) in match outcome. Discriminant analysis was conducted to identify performance indicators that clarify teams in both competition stages. Results enhanced the importance of interactive effects of match location, scoring first and quality of opposition on UCL according competition stage. The findings of this study should help coaches to improve their match strategies and raining designs before competition.

Associations between different components of fitness and fatness with academic performance in Chilean youths

Objectives To analyze the associations between different components of fitness and fatness with academic performance, adjusting the analysis by sex, age, socio-economic status, region and school type in a Chilean sample. Methods Data of fitness, fatness and academic performance was obtained from the Chilean System for the Assessment of Educational Quality test for eighth grade in 2011 and includes a sample of 18,746 subjects (49% females). Partial correlations adjusted by confounders were done to explore association between fitness and fatness components, and between the academic scores. Three unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were done in order to analyze the associations of variables. Results Fatness has a negative association with academic performance when Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist to Height Ratio (WHR) are assessed independently. When BMI and WHR are assessed jointly and adjusted by cofounders, WHR is more associated with academic performance than BMI, and only the association of WHR is positive. For fitness components, strength was the variable most associated with the academic performance. Cardiorespiratory capacity was not associated with academic performance if fatness and other fitness components are included in the model. Conclusions Fitness and fatness are associated with academic performance. WHR and strength are more related with academic performance than BMI and cardiorespiratory capacity.

The Relative Age Effect and Its Influence on Academic Performance

Introduction and Purpose The policy of school organisation for grouping students in the same academic year is based on date of birth. The differences in the experiences and maturation of older students involve a relatively better performance in academic settings, which is known as the relative age effect (RAE). This effect is more important the younger the student is. The goal of this study is to identify the connections of influence that RAE, socioeconomic status (SES), and type of institution have on academic performance in a school population of eighth graders. Methods The study is based on a population-based, representative sample of 15,234 8th graders (50.4% female; average age = 13.61 years) in the 2011 National System of Quality Assessment in Education Survey (SIMCE) from Chile. The SIMCE for global academic performance consists of 4 tests: reading, mathematics, social studies, and science. All tests consist of multiple-choice and closed questions. In addition, in order to have the information of general academic performance, an extra variable expressing the average score of each student was created. Also, the SIMCE includes additional variables for the evaluation process such as SES or type of school. Students were assigned to one of five age groups in terms of date of birth (G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5), in which students belonging to G1 are the oldest and students belonging to G5 are the youngest. Results The results achieved in the structural equation modelling indicate a good global fit. Individual relationships show significant effects of the three variables observed on academic performance, although SES received the highest values. The influence of RAE took place both in the full sample and sub-samples composed according to the SES and academic performance, showing higher values for students with lower scores. Although the influence of RAE decreases when SES is controlled, its effect is still significant and contributes to additionally explain the performance. Conclusions The RAE remains, even with residual values, an explanatory factor in academic performance even in eighth graders. Since the RAE decreases as the influence of schooling increases, the potential adverse effects for some students would be placed in previous and initial moments of formal schooling. These findings may be useful into taking steps towards flexibilisation on age of entry in compulsory schooling. Moreover, the need to implement early, comprehensive evaluation systems which include aspects related to neurodevelopment in order to provide maximum information to parents and educators is also drawn.

Traducción y adaptación cultural del cuestionario de independencia física Composite Physical Function para su uso en Chile

Background: Composite Physical Function questionnaire (CPF) assesses a range of daily life activities to determine dependency levels in older people. Aim: To perform a Spanish translation and cultural adaptation of the CPF. Material and methods: A standardized international methodology was used, which consisted in double direct translation to Spanish, harmonization of versions and back-translation to English. Acceptability and familiarity of the obtained version was analyzed using probing and paraphrasing methods in a sample of 20 older adults aged from 65 to 80 years old. Results: All items were clear and understandable, although minor adaptations needed to be done to improve the understandability of two items. These adaptations consisted in adding information in brackets at the end of the sentence. Conclusions: An understandable Spanish version of the CPF questionnaire was obtained and adapted to be used in Chilean older adults.

Validity of the International Fitness Scale “IFIS” in older adults

Objective To validate the “International Fitness Scale” (IFIS) in older adults. Methods Firstly, cognitive interviews were performed to ensure that the questionnaire was comprehensive for older Chilean adults. After that, a transversal study of 401 institutionalized and non‐institutionalized older adults from Maule region in Chile was conducted. A battery of validated fitness tests for this population was used in order to compare the responses obtained in the IFIS with the objectively measured fitness performance (back scratch, chair sit‐and‐reach, handgrip, 30‐s chair stand, timed up‐and‐go and 6‐min walking). Results Indicated that IFIS presented a high compliance in the comprehension of the items which defined it, and it was able of categorizing older adults according to their measured physical fitness levels. The analysis of covariance ANCOVA adjusted by sex and age showed a concordance between IFIS and the score in physical fitness tests. Conclusion Based on the results of this study, IFIS questionnaire is a good alternative to assess physical fitness in older adults. HighlightsIFIS is a simple and valid instrument for its use in elderlyIt is a safe alternative for fitness assessment in populations with high risk of accident during fitness evaluations.The fitness assessment in elderly through a simple questionnaire as IFIS allows its inclusion in epidemiological studies.

Offensive Rating-Time coordination dynamics in basketball. Complex systems theory applied to Basketball

Previous research on coordination dynamics has targeted the 1 vs. 1 sub phases. This study focused on collective variables. The aim of this work was to check the reliability of ecological dynamics to describe the dynamics of basketball contest as the interaction of two teams along time. Control and Order parameters were described as offensive rating across time. Games not classified by mathematical model (discriminant analysis) of ACB league were analyzed in ecological dynamics terms. Offensive ratings moving average in each minute of 73 games were used to calculate games’ relative phase trough Hilbert transform. Different groups of games were found, according to their relative phase characteristics. Results showed different tendencies in game dynamics. Stable relations in-phase, anti-phase and transitions were found. The findings pointed the importance of quality and location in team’s performance. Finally, this study provides useful information for coaches’ plans (game strategy, training methods) in order to improve their teams’ performance.

Validity and reliability of the WIMU inertial device for the assessment of the vertical jump

The aim of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the inertial device WIMU (Realtrack Systems SL, Almería, Spain) for the assessment of the vertical jump, counter movement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ). Fifteen soccer players were evaluated in two identical sessions separated by one week. In each session, participants performed three jumps of each type. The flight time was quantified by the inertial device WIMU and by a force platform (Twin Plates; Globus Sport and Health Technologies LLC, Codogné, Italy) at the same time. For the analysis of reliability of the flight time of the CMJ and the SJ, the intraclass correlation coefficient was used. The calculation of the concurrent validity was performed by using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). This analysis was complemented with the realization of the Bland–Altman plots. For the analysis of reliability, the coefficient of variation and the standard error of the means were calculated. The analysis presented a high validity and reliability of the device. The results show the inertial device WIMU (Realtrack Systems SL, Almería, Spain) as a useful tool for measuring the jump capacity of the athletes, presenting immediate results in real time, on any type of surface and in a simple way since it does not need cables.

The Relative Age Effect in under-18 basketball: Effects on performance according to playing position

The Relative Age Effect (RAE) in sport is defined as the age difference in the same sport group. This chronological difference implies a different level of sport experience and performance due to developmental and maturational processes. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relative age effect in elite u-18 basketball according to playing positions. The variables analyzed were: date of birth, playing position and technical-tactical performance indicators in basketball (TTPI). A descriptive analysis was carried out to characterize the sample, a lineal regression was used to analyze the influence of the date of birth on basketball performance and finally an ANOVA and discriminant analysis were performed to identify the differences among different playing positions. The results show the existence of the RAE in the top European Under-18 basketball competition (S1 = 67%; S2 = 33%). Performance indicators which are predictors of the birth quarter (p< .05) were only found in the small forwards (defensive rebounds (β: -.463) and fouls received (β: -.140)) and in the centers (three point throws scored (β: -.321) and tried (β: .342)). These results may be of use for coaches and clubs when recruiting players for each playing position. Older forwards and centers are capable of performing at a higher level. Therefore, clubs have to sign up those players born at the beginning of the year.

Analysis of Training Plans in Basketball: Gender and Formation Stage Differences

Abstract Scientific literature has stated the presence of various stages in athletes sportive development, with different objectives in each one of them. This should lead coaches to different training plans according to the athlete’s formation stage. The aim of this study was to analyse training plans and identify differences in basketball objectives according to formative stages (U’12 and U’14) in boys and girls. A total of 1,976 training tasks were collected and analysed, for a total of four teams (girls and boys of U’12 and U’14 categories) during an entire season. Pedagogical variables, game phases, game situations, training means and content were studied. The results showed significant differences between genders. Girls’ teams performed more tasks on offense and technical skills. By contrast, boys’ teams performed more defensive tasks and tactical contents. The 1-on-0 and 1-on-1 were the most repeated game situations in all teams. Coaches used different training tasks according to gender and age. In male U’12 teams, drills predominated, whereas in the other categories, games predominated. For boys’ teams, the contents were tactical oriented, and for girls’ teams, the contents were oriented toward skill acquisition. Studying the pedagogical variables of the training process allowed for identification of the utility of training, assessment, and modification of this process.