Rachid Boujdi

Previous studies have shown that physical activity (PA) can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin resistance (IR), a key determinant of metabolic dysfunction. While the beneficial effects of PA are well-documented in adults, evidence regarding the relationship between PA intensity and insulin resistance in adolescents, particularly in North African populations, remains scarce. This study aimed to compare the effects of a 12-week school-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) intervention, versus usual physical education, on insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in overweight and obese non-diabetic Moroccan adolescents. The study included 90 non-diabetic overweight and obese Moroccan adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups (HIIT, MICT, and control) within a 12-week school-based intervention. Insulin resistance was assessed using the HOMA-IR index. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations between exercise modality and HOMA-IR, adjusting for age, sex, baseline body mass index (BMI), and baseline HOMA-IR. Compared with the control group, both HIIT and MICT were associated with significant reductions in HOMA-IR. In the fully adjusted models, HIIT showed a greater decrease of −0.90 (95% CI: −1.07 to −0.72) (all p < 0.001) and MICT showed a decrease of −0.77 (95% CI: −0.94 to −0.61). Stratified analyses by BMI categories showed consistent improvements in insulin resistance for both overweight and obese adolescents. These findings suggest that school-based structured exercise interventions, particularly HIIT and MICT, independent of dietary modification, may contribute to improvements in insulin sensitivity and help reduce early metabolic risk in overweight and obese non-diabetic Moroccan adolescents. However, these results should be interpreted with caution given that dietary intake and other lifestyle factors were not strictly controlled.

Interventions in physical activity for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) remain a challenge for educators for the following reasons: first, information processing, an essential foundation for physical practice, is a persistent impairment for this population due to the sensory deficits associated with this condition. Second, their reluctance to engage and participate in physical activity due to challenging behaviors. The aim of the present study toward quantitatively measuring the behaviors of children with ASD in relation to motor task design during a physical activity session.Eight children were recruited for this study (6 boys; 2 girls), aged between 6 and 12 years (mean = 10.0 1.5 years). All participants were classified at level 2 (moderate) according to the APA (2015), which takes into account the amount of support the child needs to function in their environment. The inclusion criteria adopted in this study were as follows: regular, full-time attendance at the association where the study was conducted, absence of regular participation in extracurricular sports activities, absence of comorbidities that would impair physical activity (e.g., visual impairment), and absence of medical treatment (e.g., psychotropic medications) likely to influence the study's outcomes. Three types of motor tasks (closed, play-based, and interaction-based) were designed in this study to assess their impact on the behaviors of children with ASD. Live and video scoring allowed us to evaluate both positive and problematic behaviors of the participants.The results revealed that task design plays a crucial role in the emergence of behaviors in children with ASD. Specifically, the more task is tailored to their unique characteristics, the more problematic behaviors decrease and positive behavior increase. This is particularly true for play-based tasks, which demonstrated a more pronounced effect and a preferential advantage compared to other tasks. Indeed these tasks led to significant improvements in most items (5 out of 7 items), due to their approach rootes in unconscious learning, which proved to be beneficial for these children during physical activity.The findings of this study may provide a promising pathway for the development of programs and the design of physical activity learning situations for this community with very specific needs.

This research aims to explore the relationships between sleep quality and duration and their influence on the intensity and duration of physical activity among Moroccan high school students.A sample of 400 students (both boys and girls) enrolled in secondary schools during the 2023-2024 academic year in the Fès-Meknès region was randomly recruited. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to assess levels of sports practice and sedentary behaviors among participants.This study showed a positive correlation between levels of sports practice and sleep duration. Participants with higher levels of sports practice demonstrated a significant positive association with both sleep duration and quality.The results suggest that an increase in sports practice may improve sleep quality. However, it is important to consider other factors to enhance overall sleep quality.