This study aimed to verify the relationship between anthropometric measures (AM), blood pressure (BP) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB), predicted BMI z-score, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) variance. A total of 245 children (8.90 ± .80years-old) were recruited from a Portuguese school. WHtR was classified according the reference ≥ 0.5. WC was measured above iliac crest. BP was assessed using a sphygmomanometer, and CRF using 20-m run test. PA and SB were assessed by accelerometers (Actigraph GT3x) and by questionnaire. Participants did not meet recommendations on PA. CRF and vigorous PA (VPA) were inversely correlated with AM. Moderate and vigorous PA were positively correlated with CRF. CRF was inversely correlated with systolic and diastolic BP. CRF and PA explained BMI z-score variance. WC and WHtR variance was predicted by CRF. These results emphasize the importance of international recommendations for PA with the purpose of developing CRF. A new emphasis should be given to CRF and interdisciplinary approaches in international recommendations. This should provide new health implications for primary care providers and school services.

Abstract Regarding psychological responses to exercise, this study aimed to analyze the mediating effects of motivational regulations and intensity in the association between basic psychological needs satisfaction and emotional responses. This was a cross-sectional study of 495 health club members (M = 40.50 years; SD = 13.54); of these, 186 were women (37.6%) and 309 men (62.4%), with an average attendance of 2.61 sessions per week (SD=1.29). Self-determination theory motivational regulations and basic psychological needs (BPN), perceived exercise intensity, and emotional response were measured. Serial mediation procedures were followed to test the interactions of variables. Models with autonomous regulations predicted positive emotional responses. As for the negative emotional response, the models with external regulation presented the highest predictions for negative activation. Results indicate that BPN satisfaction is associated with better emotional response, partially explained by autonomous regulations and perceived exercise intensity. In externally regulated individuals, perceived exercise intensity appears to be important to sustain a better emotional response.