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The study investigated the prevalence of students meeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations and factors associated with MVPA during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4059 university students (2200 females [F]) during the lockdown using an electronic form. PA was assessed using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). Independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge to perform PA, pre-pandemic PA, sedentary behavior (SB), and health self-reports related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 56% of students met MVPA recommendations (males [M]: 57.7%, F: 54.3%; χ2 = 4.703, p = 0.030). Knowledge to perform PA (M: OR = 3.012, 95% CI: 2.413–3.759; F: OR = 2.948, 95% CI: 2.444–3.556) and being physically active before the pandemic (M: OR = 2.651, 95% CI: 2.060–3.412; F: OR = 1.459, 95% CI: 1.079–1.974) increased the likelihood that students attained the MVPA recommendations. In contrast, longer daily exposure to SB was negatively associated with MVPA in both sexes. In this context, the present findings reinforce the relevance of universities as strategic settings for the promotion of PA in middle-income countries, where social and economic vulnerabilities may exacerbate the long-term consequences of physical inactivity.

Sport for children and adolescents must consider growth and maturation to ensure suitable training and competition, and anthropometric variables could be used as bio-banding strategies in youth sport. This investigation aimed to analyze the association between chronological age, biologic maturation, and anthropometric characteristics to explain physical performance of young judo athletes. Sixty-seven judokas (11.0–14.7 years) were assessed for anthropometric and physical performance. Predicted adult stature was used as a somatic maturation indicator. A Pearson’s bivariate correlation was performed to define which anthropometric variables were associated with each physical test. A multiple linear hierarchical regression was conducted to verify the effects of age, maturity, and anthropometry on physical performance. The regression models were built with age, predicted adult stature, and the three most significantly correlated anthropometric variables for each physical test. Older judokas performed better in most of the physical tests. However, maturation attenuated the age effect in most variables and significantly affected upper body and handgrip strength. Anthropometric variables attenuated age and maturity and those associated with body composition significantly affected the performance in most tests, suggesting a potential as bio-banding strategies. Future studies should investigate the role of anthropometric variables on the maturity effect in young judokas.

Young judo athletes are bio-banding based on age and body mass and compete in weight classes. The purposes of this study were to investigate the influences of maturation on physical performance in young judokas through controlling the chronological age and body mass, and to examine the mediating role of anthropometric variables. Sixty-seven judokas, aged 11.0–14.7, were measured for 11 anthropometric and seven physical performance variables. Pearson partial correlations were conducted to verify the relationship between the maturational indicator and the dependent variables. Mediation analyses were performed to identify the extent to which anthropometric variables mediate the relationship. The maturation effect remained on the aerobic capacity and handgrip strength (p < 0.05). Fat mass (b = 80.335, 95%CI 11.580–204.270) and fat-free mass (b = 108.256, 95%CI 39.508–207.606) totally mediated the effect on aerobic capacity. Fat mass (b = 0.023, 95%CI 0.004–0.057), fat-free mass (b = 0.029, 95%CI 0.011–0.058), stature (b = 0.031, 95%CI 0.008–0.061), arm span (b = 0.021, 95%CI 0.003–0.044), and inferior members length (b = 0.022, 95%CI 0.005–0.049) totally mediated the effect on handgrip strength. The effect of biological maturation is noticeable even after age and body mass control, being mediated by anthropometric variables related to body composition and size.

The present study investigated variance in overall quality of life in relation to a broad spectrum of correlates, including sociodemographic characteristics, health self-reports related to the COVID-19 pandemic, sedentary behavior, and habitual physical activity, as well as examined the relationship between habitual physical activity and quality of life domains in university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 4059 undergraduate students (1859 men). Data were collected between June and October 2020. The electronic questionnaire comprised four main domains: sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported health conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, sedentary behavior and physical activity level, and quality of life. Students reported a mean score of 58.3 (± 21.2) for overall quality of life (males: 59.7 ± 21.0; females: 57.2 ± 21.4, p < 0.001). Male students exhibited significantly higher scores than female students across all quality of life domains, with the exception of the social domain (p > 0.05). Notably, a set of variables was associated with higher quality of life scores across both sexes including having private health insurance, sleeping between 7 h and 9 h per night, and engaging in moderate or high levels of physical activity. Students classified as physically active associated with better perception in all quality of life domains across both sexes. While these findings are consistent with the existing literature, they further underscore the importance of addressing the interplay of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors in strategies aimed at improving quality of life in university students during lockdown.

The great inter-individual variability in growth and maturation processes has consequences for physical and sports performance of children and adolescents, as individuals of the same age and sex may have incompatible functional capabilities and skills. A considerable number of studies show the existing biological variability in children and youth sports practitioners, and in most competitive sports, less mature athletes may be in disadvantage in terms of physical fitness. Therefore, the complex process of growth and maturation must be considered for children and adolescents in sport to ensure suitable training and competition routines. Nonetheless, in combat sports less research attention has been given to the effect of maturation over performance. There is evidence of maturational discrepancies within weight categories in young combat sports, raising questions about the suitability of chronological age and body mass as criteria to guarantee equal conditions among young combat sports athletes. In judo and other combat sports, using body mass as a criterion for distribution of youth athletes into competitive categories is a common bio-banding strategy and could attenuate the maturational effect. Nevertheless, doubts may be raised about the suitability of body mass-based classification to guarantee fair play in combat sports due to evidence of maturation effect within weight categories in young combat sports, and due to rapid weight loss practice as competitive strategy. This doctoral thesis aimed to explore the relationship between chronological age, growth, and biological maturation to explain the physical performance of young Portuguese judo athletes, as well as to investigate the contribution of body mass and other anthropometric variables to the control of possible biological maturation effects on the performance of young judokas. Three specific cross-sectional studies, using the same data collection, were developed, with independent but related objectives, methods, and analysis. Sixty-seven Portuguese young male judokas aged 11.0-14.7 years were included in the sample. Anthropometric assessment and physical fitness tests were performed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, correlations, multiple linear regressions, and mediation analysis. From the analyzes and discussions underwent in the three studies that composed the thesis, it was evidenced that: (a) biological maturation significantly influenced growth and performance of the young judokas participating in the study regardless of age, in a clear trend that more mature athletes are taller, have greater body mass and greater muscle mass, and perform better than their less mature colleagues in all applied physical tests, predominantly in aerobic performance, general upper body strength and handgrip strength; (b) hierarchical linear regression models confirmed the effect of maturation on the performance of the evaluated judokas, attenuating the effect of age. However, when included in the model as predictors, the variables associated with growth better explained performance and attenuated the maturation effect on the physical capacity tests performed, indicating that the anticipated development of more biologically mature young athletes can translate into performance gains depending on the task. In this perspective, may be necessary to adopt criteria in addition to chronological age to banding young judokas and, by extension, young athletes from other combat sports; (c) when chronological age and body mass were controlled, the maturation effect on aerobic performance and handgrip strength remained, creating disparity of conditions between athletes with different maturity status.

The aim of this study was to verify differences between boys contrasting in futsal practice level groups on gross motor coordination and growth indicators. A sample of 196 boys aged 11 to 14 years was measured for anthropometric variables and Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). Results revealed that there were no significant associations of the futsal practice level on growth parameters. On the other hand, ANCOVA results (chronological age as a covariate) indicated that boys participating in futsal practice ≥ 2 days/week had significantly better performances in jumping sideways, hoping for height, and total score of KTK than their less practicing counterparts. These findings encourage the most frequent practice of sports for the development of gross motor coordination.

The aim of this study was to verify differences between boys contrasting in futsal practice level groups on gross motor coordination and growth indicators. A sample of 196 boys aged 11 to 14 years was measured for anthropometric variables and Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). Results revealed that there were no significant associations of the futsal practice level on growth parameters. On the other hand, ANCOVA results (chronological age as a covariate) indicated that boys participating in futsal practice ≥ 2 days/week had significantly better performances in jumping sideways, hoping for height, and total score of KTK than their less practicing counterparts. These findings encourage the most frequent practice of sports for the development of gross motor coordination. Keywords: Motor skills; Adolescent; Maturation; Sport.