Associations of physical activity with phase angle in adolescents living with HIV : The moderating and mediating roles of physical fitness

Abstract HIV infection and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can cause metabolic and cardiovascular changes in adolescents, who often have low physical activity (PA), harming their health. To investigate the relationship between PA levels and phase angle (PhA), we analyze potential moderating and mediating effects. Cross‐sectional study with 47 adolescents (10–18 years) with vertically transmitted HIV. PA was assessed using PAQ‐C; PhA was measured by tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance. Aerobic capacity was assessed by a submaximal bench step test, muscular strength by handgrip test, and body composition by anthropometric measures (arm muscle area [AMA] and body fat percentage [%BF]). Correlation, regression, and mediation and moderation analyses were performed. 61.7% showed inadequate PhA (