Global physical activity guidelines for preschoolers include 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. This study, based on the developmental model of motor skill competence, examines how motor competence relates to preschoolers’ likelihood of meeting global guidelines using ankle accelerometry. We measured physical activity using 24-h ankle-placement accelerometry (Actical) for at least two consecutive days (87% with six-seven days), motor competence using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2), and BMI-for-age z-scores (BMIz) using anthropometry and age- and sex-specific CDC norms. Caregivers provided demographic characteristics of children’s age, sex, and race. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine how motor competence, BMIz weight status, and demographic characteristics related to meeting global physical activity guidelines. The sample included 588 preschoolers, age 3–5 years; 55% male; 60% white; and 28% overweight/obese; 75% attained the recommended 60 min of MVPA per day. The odds of meeting MVPA guidelines were associated with higher gross motor quotient, higher object control scores, sex (male), age (older), and race (white), but not with BMIz weight status. Findings support the use of 24-h ankle accelerometry among preschoolers and are consistent with the developmental model of motor competence applied to preschoolers, whereby object control competence relates positively to attaining global physical activity guidelines.

Background: Obesity is a recently identified risk factor for metabolic acidosis and anion gap elevations in the absence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Metabolic acidosis is a treatable condition with substantial adverse effects on human health. Additional investigations are needed to characterize at-risk populations and explore potential mechanisms. We hypothesized metabolic syndrome (MetS) and waist circumference (WC) would be closely associated with this pathology. Methods: Adult participants from NHANES 1999 - 2018 meeting study criteria were compiled as main (n = 31,163) and fasting (n = 12,860) cohorts. Regression models adjusted for dietary acid, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and other factors examined associations of WC and MetS features with anion gap metabolic acidosis and its components (serum bicarbonate ≤ 23 mEq/L and anion gap > 95th percentile). Results: Greater WC and MetS features were associated with progressively lower bicarbonate, higher anion gap, and greater odds ratios (OR) of metabolic acidosis (MA) and anion gap metabolic acidosis (AGMA). Compared to the reference, participants with the highest WC had ORs for MA and AGMA of 2.26 [1.96 - 2.62] and 2.89 [1.97 - 4.21]; those with three and four vs. zero MetS features had ORs for AGMA of 2.52 [1.95 - 2.94] and 3.05 [2.16 - 3.82]. Associations of body mass index with outcomes were attenuated or absent following adjustment for WC or MetS. Findings were preserved after excluding eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73m2 and albuminuria. A lower MA cutoff (< 22 mEq/L) raised the estimate of association between MetS and MA (OR for three and four vs zero features: 3.56 [2.53 - 5.02] and 5.44 [3.66 - 8.08]). Conclusions: Metabolic diseases are characterized by metabolic acidosis and anion gap elevations. Metabolic dysfunction may predispose patients without CKD to systemic acidosis from endogenous sources. Comprehensive acid-base analyses may be informative in patients with metabolic diseases.