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. 2015 Jan-Mar;33(1):114-21.
doi: 10.1016/j.rpped.2014.11.003. Epub 2015 Jan 9.

[Physical activity and biological maturation: a systematic review]

[Article in Portuguese]
Eliane Denise Araújo Bacil  1 , Oldemar Mazzardo Júnior  2 , Cassiano Ricardo Rech  3 , Rosimeide Francisco dos Santos Legnani  2 , Wagner de Campos  2
Affiliations

[Physical activity and biological maturation: a systematic review]

[Article in Portuguese]
Eliane Denise Araújo Bacil et al. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2015 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To analyze the association between physical activity (PA) and biological maturation in children and adolescents.

DATA SOURCE:: We performed a systematic review in April 2013 in the electronic databases of PubMed/MEDLINE, SportDiscus, Web of Science and LILACS without time restrictions. A total of 628 potentially relevant articles were identified and 10 met the inclusion criteria for this review: cross-sectional or longitudinal studies, published in Portuguese, English or Spanish, with schoolchildren aged 9-15 years old of both genders.

DATA SYNTHESIS:: Despite the heterogeneity of the studies, there was an inverse association between PA and biological maturation. PA decreases with increased biological and chronological age in both genders. Boys tend to be more physically active than girls; however, when controlling for biological age, the gender differences disappear. The association between PA and timing of maturation varies between the genders. Variation in the timing of biological maturation affects the tracking of PA in early adolescent girls. This review suggests that mediators (BMI, depression, low self-esteem, and concerns about body weight) can explain the association between PA and biological maturation.

CONCLUSIONS:: There is an association between PA and biological maturation. PA decreases with increasing biological age with no differences between genders. As for the timing of biological maturation, this association varies between genders.

Keywords: Adolescent; Adolescentes; Atividade motora; Child; Crianças; Motor activity; Puberdade; Puberty.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest

Figures

Figura 1
Figura 1. Fluxograma do processo de seleção do estudo.
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