Are elevated body mass index and body fat percentage associated with decreased physical fitness in soccer players aged 12-14 years?
The strong relationship between BMI and BF suggest the further use of BMI in adolescent soccer players. The findings confirmed previous observations in the general population about the negative effect of overweight and fatness on physical fitness. The prevalence of overweightness among participants was similar with what is observed in general population. Therefore, sport participation cannot guarantee physiological body mass and body composition, and it is necessary to prescribe exercise targeting body mass and fat control.
RV function assessed by the Tei index added significant prognostic information, incremental to the NYHA clinical classification and to the standard echocardiographic evaluation of LV systolic function. A simple measure of a Doppler index, which allows analysis of both systolic and diastolic function of the RV, appears to be a useful non-invasive tool for risk stratification in patients with dilated chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy.