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SUMMARY: Military readiness relies heavily on the physical fitness and operational capability of its personnel. This study aims to enhance the effectiveness of body composition assessment and classification protocols within the military context. A comprehensive evaluation of 4370 active-duty Chilean military personnel was conducted, focusing on anthropometric characteristics, including adipose tissue, muscle tissue, and anthropometric indices. The study observed significant differences in body composition between genders, with men exhibiting lower levels of body fat percentage (men: 26.28 %; women: 34.62 %) but higher levels of muscle mass (men: 42.0 %; women: 36.0 %;), skeletal muscle index (men:11.81; women: 9.31), and fat-free mass index (men: 19.92; women: 18.45) compared to women. High levels of muscle tissue were observed in both groups. By integrating these findings into a standardized assessment protocol, a more accurate classification of military personnel was achieved, surpassing traditional methods used in sedentary obese populations. The study advocates the future adoption of an assessment model based on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, which consider the multifaceted nature of body composition and its impact on operational capability. Such a model would enable military forces to optimize their personnel's physical fitness and readiness, thus enhancing their effectiveness in deployment operations.

La preparación militar depende en gran medida de la aptitud física y la capacidad operativa de su personal. Este estudio tiene como objetivo mejorar la eficacia de los protocolos de evaluación y clasificación de la composición corporal dentro del contexto militar. Se realizó una evaluación integral de 4.370 militares chilenos en servicio activo, centrándose en las características antropométricas, incluido el tejido adiposo, el tejido muscular y los índices antropométricos. El estudio observó diferencias significativas en la composición corporal entre sexos, con los hombres exhibiendo niveles más bajos de porcentaje de grasa corporal (hombres: 26,28 %; mujeres: 34,62 %) pero niveles más altos de masa muscular (hombres: 42,0 %; mujeres: 36,0 %;), índice de músculo esquelético (hombres: 11,81; mujeres: 9,31) e índice de masa magra (hombres: 19,92; mujeres: 18,45) en comparación con las mujeres. Se observaron altos niveles de tejido muscular en ambos grupos. Al integrar estos hallazgos en un protocolo de evaluación estandarizado, se logró una clasificación más precisa del personal militar, superando los métodos tradicionales utilizados en poblaciones obesas sedentarias. El estudio aboga por la adopción futura de un modelo de evaluación basado en algoritmos de inteligencia artificial (IA), que consideren la naturaleza multifacética de la composición corporal y su impacto en la capacidad operativa. Un modelo de este tipo permitiría a las fuerzas militares optimizar la aptitud física y la preparación de su personal, mejorando así su eficacia en las operaciones de despliegue.

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The United Nations, through its 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, advocates for the establishment of conducive environments for physical activity, following the ecological model. In line with this initiative, active transportation emerges as an accessible, cost-effective, and sustainable approach to augmenting daily physical activity levels. This study protocol endeavors to assess the impact of an active transportation education program rooted in the ecological model on the physical and mental well-being of high school students. Drawing upon scientific insights, we hypothesize that a 16-week active transportation intervention will lead to a 3% reduction in average body fat percentage and a noteworthy enhancement in executive function (including inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory), physical fitness (comprising cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength), and mental health (encompassing mood disorders and cognitive functioning). If this intervention proves effective, it could offer a viable solution for the school community, especially in reducing congestion within the school environment. The study protocol aims to evaluate the impact of an active transportation educational program based on the ecological model on the physical and mental well-being of high school students. Three high schools located in the urban area of Talca, Chile, will be randomly selected (one public, one privately subsidized, and one private non-subsidized). Each high school will be randomly assigned an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30; without intervention). The experimental groups will receive an active transportation educational intervention during their physical education classes for four months (60 to 90 min sessions, once a week), while the control group will receive no intervention. The primary outcome will provide information on body composition and executive function. Secondary outcomes will include objective physical activity level, physical fitness, mental well-being, academic achievement, health-related quality of life, perception of environmental urban features, physical activity barriers, and adherence to active transportation. It is expected that the results of the MOV-ES Project will transcend the physical health of schoolchildren and will have an impact on the school community, especially by decongesting the school environment.

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The preschool period is considered critical for the development of motor competence, but as far as we know, no studies have investigated the association between motor competence and physical fitness in Chilean children. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between gross motor competence and physical fitness, controlling for possible confounding factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 144 preschool children (56.25% girls) with an average age of 5.3 years (4 to 6 years) from the Araucanía region, Chile. Motor competence was measured using the Children's Movement Assessment Battery, 2nd Edition (MABC-2). Regarding physical fitness, the components of cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscle strength and speed/agility were evaluated using the Battery to Assess FITness in PREschool (PREFIT). Partial correlation models and analysis of variance (ANCOVA) were used to assess differences in physical fitness between motor competence categories, controlling for age and body mass index. The mean fitness scores for cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscle strength and speed/agility components were significantly higher in children with higher gross motor competence. In terms of effect size, large values were found for the lower body strength component in model 1 for boys and in model 2 for the total samples of girls and boys. The results of this study suggest that good levels of gross motor competence are associated with better physical fitness levels.

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Functional autonomy (FA) is a critical factor in determining the quality of life of older adults (OA), especially in the case of older women (OW), as they face a decline in FA in their later years of life. FA should be assessed early, using valid, reliable, and low-cost tests. This study evaluated the test-retest reliability of GDLAM and GDLAM autonomy index (GI) in OW. Thirty-nine OW (71.2 ± 6.50 years) participated in the study. A repeated measures design was used to compare the interday test-retest reliability of the five GDLAM tests (seconds) and the GI (points). The five tests represent activities of daily living, such as dressing or wandering around the house, while the GI provides a weighting of the results of the five tests. The analysis consisted of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and coefficient of variation (CV). A CV ≤ 10% and an ICC ≥ 0.80 were considered acceptable reliability, whereas a CV ≤ 5% and an ICC ≥ 0.90 were considered high reliability. The outcome of the five tests, represented by the GI, showed high interday test-retest reliability (CV = 6.00% and ICC = 0.91). The results of this study demonstrate that the five tests of the GDLAM protocol and the GI have high interday test-retest reliability and good interday reproducibility. From a practical point of view, the GDLAM protocol allows the assessment of FA of community-dwelling OW, providing background for early diagnosis and, with it, the possibility of developing an individualized physical exercise prescription.

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Evidence suggests that early physical activity interventions are a means of preventing childhood obesity and are more effective when delivered in a school setting and based on the ecological model. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the effect of a multicomponent intervention based on the ecological model on adiposity, physical fitness and motor competence in children aged 4 to 5 years. METHODS: This study is a non-randomized controlled trial involving 173 children from Chile. The intervention was based on an ecological model and consisted of a physical activity program with three simultaneous parts, affecting intra- and interpersonal dimensions. The adiposity index, body mass index and waist circumference were measured. For physical fitness, muscle strength in the lower part, speed/agility and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured. Motor competence was assessed using catching, aiming and dynamic and static balance tests. RESULTS: After the intervention, there was no reduction in adiposity indices; in the intervention group, body mass index increased significantly with a high effect size. The intervention group showed significant differences in physical fitness in the components of muscle strength in the lower part (p = 0.000) and speed/agility (p = 0.002). For motor competence, the intervention group showed significant improvements in most components. CONCLUSIONS: The multicomponent intervention did not reduce adiposity indices; however, it caused significant improvements in the physical fitness and motor competence components, so it seems prudent to continue implementing it, given the benefits that adequate levels of motor competence and physical fitness bring to children's health, both in the short and long term.

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El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar el desempeño deportivo de la delegación chilena en los Juegos Panamericanos celebrados entre los años 1951 y 2023, haciendo uso de datos retrospectivos y proyectivos a través de series temporales de tiempo. Para esto se empleó un diseño cuantitativo, no experimental y longitudinal de tendencias y un método de suavización exponencial simple, que utiliza promedios históricos y que permite realizar una predicción o comportamiento futuro basado en una media ponderada de los valores actuales y de los pasados. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, fue posible concluir que, en las últimas décadas, la ubicación de Chile en el ranking de los Juegos Panamericanos se ha estabilizado en torno a un onceavo lugar, posición pronosticada para Santiago 2023. Manteniéndose condiciones similares, el desempeño deportivo general y específico no tendría un quiebre exponencial de la tendencia y los resultados no resultan favorables, específicamente en lo que respecta a la obtención de medallas de oro y la posición general de la delegación.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the sports performance of the Chilean delegation in the Pan American Games held between 1951 and 2023, using retrospective and projective data through time series. For this purpose, a quantitative, non-experimental and longitudinal design of trends and a simple exponential smoothing method was used, which uses historical averages and allows a prediction or future behavior based on a weighted average of current and past values. From the results obtained, it was possible to conclude that, in recent decades, Chile's position in the Pan American Games ranking has stabilized around eleventh place, a position predicted for Santiago 2023. Maintaining similar conditions, the general and specific sporting performance would not have an exponential break in the trend and the results are not favorable, specifically in terms of obtaining gold medals and the overall position of the delegation.

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o desempenho esportivo da delegação chilena nos Jogos Pan-Americanos realizados entre 1951 e 2023, usando dados retrospectivos e projetivos por meio de séries temporais. Para isso, foi utilizado um desenho quantitativo, não experimental e longitudinal de tendências e um método de suavização exponencial simples, que utiliza médias históricas e permite uma previsão do comportamento futuro com base em uma média ponderada dos valores atuais e passados. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível concluir que, nas últimas décadas, a posição do Chile no ranking dos Jogos Pan-Americanos se estabilizou em torno do 11º lugar, posição prevista para Santiago 2023. Mantendo-se condições semelhantes, o desempenho esportivo geral e específico não teria uma quebra exponencial na tendência e os resultados não são favoráveis, especificamente em termos de conquista de medalhas de ouro e posição geral da delegação.

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Evidence suggests that moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is necessary for health benefits. Immersive virtual reality is a technology that uses images, sounds, and tactile sensations from a simulated world to encourage healthy behaviours and physical activity. The aims of this research are (1) to determine the duration and intensity of physical activity performed through immersive virtual reality; (2) to determine differences in physical activity intensity according to gender. METHODS: A nonprobabilistic convenience sample composed of 39 university students of physical education pedagogy, who performed, through immersive virtual reality, a physical activity programme composed of three levels that progressively increased in complexity. Physical activity intensity was measured using accelerometers. RESULTS: Of the three levels, the most complex was not the one that produced the most minutes of MVPA. The three levels added up to 08:53 min of MVPA. No significant differences were found when comparing them by sex. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that an exercise programme delivered through immersive virtual reality generates MVPA levels, with no major differences between sexes. Further research is needed to confirm the contribution of immersive virtual reality to physical activity.

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La población joven y adulta de Chile presenta altos niveles de inactividad física y sedentarismo, lo que coincide con los rangos etarios de los estudiantes universitarios. En este sentido, es escasa la evidencia científica que ha estudiado la calidad de los servicios deportivos que entregan las instituciones de educación superior, tanto a nivel latinoamericano, como chileno. Por lo tanto, este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la calidad del servicio de la Unidad de Deportes y Recreación de la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción de Chile, mediante la percepción que manifiestan los estudiantes que asisten a los talleres deportivos y de actividad física. Se aplicó el cuestionario SERVPERF que mide cinco dimensiones: elementos tangibles, fiabilidad, capacidad de respuesta, seguridad y empatía, según el grado de satisfacción de los usuarios. La investigación tuvo un enfoque cuantitativo y de tipo descriptivo. La muestra fue de 70 participantes (55 mujeres y 15 hombres). En general, los resultados mostraron una buena percepción y evaluación de todas las dimensiones del cuestionario. La dimensión seguridad fue la mejor valorada y la dimensión Elementos tangibles fue la que mostró una más baja evaluación.

A população jovem e adulta do Chile apresenta altos níveis de inatividade física e estilos de vida sedentários, o que coincide com as faixas etárias dos estudantes universitários. Nesse sentido, há poucas evidências científicas que tenham estudado a qualidade dos serviços esportivos prestados pelas instituições de ensino superior, tanto na América Latina quanto no Chile. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade do serviço prestado pela Unidade de Esportes e Recreação da Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, no Chile, por meio da percepção dos alunos que participam das oficinas de esportes e atividades físicas. Foi aplicado o questionário SERVPERF, que mede cinco dimensões: elementos tangíveis, confiabilidade, capacidade de resposta, segurança e empatia, de acordo com o grau de satisfação do usuário. A pesquisa teve uma abordagem quantitativa e descritiva. A amostra foi composta por 70 participantes (55 mulheres e 15 homens). Em geral, os resultados mostraram uma boa percepção e avaliação de todas as dimensões do questionário. A dimensão Segurança foi a mais bem avaliada e a dimensão Elementos tangíveis apresentou a avaliação mais baixa.

The young and adult population of Chile presents high levels of physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle, which coincides with the age ranges of university students. In this sense, there is little scientific evidence that has studied the quality of sports services provided by higher education institutions, both at the Latin American and Chilean levels. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of the service of the Sports and Recreation Unit of the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción de Chile, through the perception expressed by students who attend sports and physical activity workshops. The SERVPERF questionnaire was applied, which measures five dimensions: tangible elements, reliability, response capacity, security and empathy, according to the degree of user satisfaction. The research had a quantitative and descriptive approach. The sample consisted of 70 participants (55 women and 15 men). In general, the results showed a good perception and evaluation of all the dimensions of the questionnaire. The security dimension was the best valued and the tangible elements dimension was the one that showed the lowest evaluation.

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BACKGROUND: In recent decades, the school population has undergone behavioral changes that have affected their health and adult life. The current educational scenario presents high levels of sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, low physical fitness, high levels of obesity, and non-compliance with sleep recommendations. In Chile, the scientific evidence on associations between these behaviors is incipient. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and physical fitness with BMI and minutes of sleep in Chilean children aged 10 to 11 years. METHODS: A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 222 schoolchildren aged 10 to 11 years. The variables measured were body composition (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle run test), lower and upper muscular strength (long jump test and handgrip dynamometry), speed (4 × 10 m running), and flexibility (sit and reach test). Physical activity and sleep were measured by accelerometers. RESULTS: Of the participants, 60.4% and 90.6% did not comply with sleep and physical activity recommendations, respectively. Physical fitness was higher in boys in all components. The results of the linear regression show that in girls, moderate-vigorous-intensity physical activity, lower- and upper-body muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance were associated with BMI and sleep. In boys, light-intensity physical activity and upper-body muscular strength were associated with both variables. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity intensity, strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with BMI and sleep; however, physical activity intensity and associated physical fitness components differed by gender.

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Physical activity has benefits for health, but many adolescents are inactive. However, video games such as Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) have grown in popularity as a leisure activity among young people, allowing them to manipulate objects in virtual environments increasing the practice of physical activity. The evidence indicates that the interest in physical activity through IVR is greater than in traditional methods, and different experiences have been reported. However, few studies indicate the sample evaluated, the effects found, or the IVR instruments used. Due to this, is the aim of this study is to identify the publications referring to IVR and physical activity, characterize them, and present the obtained main findings. For this, the guidelines described in the PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews were applied. After the use of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight articles were included. Results show evidence regarding physiological outcomes, perceptual variables, interest and enjoyment, and psychological effects regarding physical activity through IVR. Additionally, the use of different devices and their prescriptions are explored. It is concluded that there is interest from the scientific community for the practice of physical activity through IVR, as well as for its application for the maintenance of active habits. This is important as it positions IVR as a method that can be a more experiential and effective way to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.