La Prueba de Caminata de Seis Minutos Relacionada con Variables del Estado Nutricional, Antropométricas y de Actividad Física en Adolescentes Chilenos

Background: In Chile, 40% of the population between 15 and 19 years old has malnutrition by excess. The evaluation through anthropometry and functional physical activity (PA) provide a comprehensive diagnosis. The aim was to develop an equation to predict the aerobic performance in the Six-minute walk test (SMWT) from the nutritional status, anthropometry and PA in Chilean adolescents of both sexes. Methods: A total of 180 adolescents with an average age of 16 years participated, their body weight and height were determined; they answered a questionnaire related to life habits, PA and drug consumption, among others, and performed the SMWT. The variables compared by sex and those that are significantly related to distance in the SMWT, were included in a multivariate equation. Finally, the concordance between the equation and the SMWT was verified with the Bland-Almant diagram. The SPSS program, v20, was used (p<0.05). Results: There were significant differences in body characteristics, PA and SMWT, being higher in men; the majority of adolescents do not consume drugs, which is similar in both genders. The equation that predicts the distance in the SMWT is 479.477 + (46.581 ˣ Gender) + (74.441 ˣ Height) + (-0.865 ˣ BMI) + (10.784 ˣ PA) with value p<0.001, and according to Bland-Altman there were no differences between the equation and the SMWT (p=0.845). Conclusions: The corporal characteristics of height and BMI, the PA and being male or female predict the distance in the SMWT, but they explain it in a low percentage.