OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise training without dietary changes on cardiovascular and metabolic variables and on the expression of glucose transporter Type 4 in rats with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Twenty male spontaneously hypertensive rats received monosodium glutamate during the neonatal period. The animals were allocated to the following groups: MS (sedentary metabolic syndrome), MS-T (trained on a treadmill for 1 hour/day, 5 days/week for 10 weeks), H (sedentary spontaneously hypertensive rats) and H-T (trained spontaneously hypertensive rats). The Lee index, blood pressure (tail-cuff system), insulin sensitivity (insulin tolerance test) and functional capacity were evaluated before and after 10 weeks of training. Glucose transporter Type 4 expression was analyzed using Western blotting. The data were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p<0.05). RESULTS: At baseline, the MS rats exhibited lower insulin sensitivity and increased Lee index compared with the H rats. Training decreased the body weight and Lee index of the MS rats (MS-T vs. MS), but not of the H rats (H-T vs. H). There were no differences in food intake between the groups. At the end of the experiments, the systolic blood pressure was lower in the two trained groups than in their sedentary controls. Whole-body insulin sensitivity increased in the trained groups. Glucose transporter Type 4 content increased in the heart, white adipose tissue and gastrocnemius muscle of the trained groups relative to their respective untrained groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present study shows that an isolated aerobic exercise training intervention is an efficient means of improving several components of metabolic syndrome, that is, training reduces obesity and hypertension and increases insulin sensitivity.

Este artigo objetiva descrever a rotina referente à vida acadêmica de crianças atendidas pelo Programa Bolsa Família em uma comunidade ribeirinha amazônica. Participaram do estudo 30 crianças: 16 meninas e 14 meninos. Foram utilizados os Inventários Sociodemográfico e o de Rotina. Os principais resultados indicaram que a atividade de ir para a escola ocupa 16% de um dia de semana, o dever de casa atinge 3% e não há leituras fora do ambiente escolar. No fim de semana, as crianças não realizam dever de casa ou leituras. A participação parental na rotina dos filhos e filhas é restrita. Ações de envolvimento e capacitação das famílias ribeirinhas são necessárias para que estas participem e estruturem atividades acadêmicas nas rotinas das crianças.

This article aims to describe the routine related to academic life of children who participate in the Bolsa Família Program in an Amazon riverside community. A Sociodemographic and a Routine Inventory were administered to 30 children: 16 girls and 14 boys. The main results indicate attending school occupies 16% of their weekday, homework 3% and no reading activities take place outside the school. In the weekend, children do not make homework or develop reading activities. Parental participation in the routine of their sons and daughters is restricted. Actions to stimulate involvement and qualification of those riverside community families are necessary so they can participate and organize academic activities in the routine of their children.