Associations between muscle mass, physical activity and dietary behaviour in adolescents

Abstract

Summary Background and objectives Investigations in older individuals suggest that adequate nutrition and physical activity are particularly important to skeletal muscle health; however, data in adolescents are scant and equivocal. The objective was to determine the associations among diet, physical activity and skeletal muscle mass in adolescents. Methods We assessed diet with four to seven 24‐h recalls and physical activity by accelerometry in 640 adolescents. Using total body measures of fat‐free soft tissue mass and fat mass assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, the skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) was derived by adjusting fat‐free soft tissue mass for fat mass in addition to height. Results Skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) was negatively associated with consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages (standardized beta coefficient [β] = −0.10, P = 0.001) and saturated fats (β = −0.28, P < 0.001). SMMI was positively associated with physical activity (moderate + vigorous) (β = 0.20, P < 0.001). In further analysis, we observed a significant interaction between physical activity and sugar‐sweetened beverage intake on SMMI (P = 0.002). Conclusion Our study in adolescence suggests that physical activity and consumption of both sugar‐sweetened beverages and saturated fats are associated with skeletal muscle mass. More importantly, our findings suggest that sugar‐sweetened beverage intake may attenuate the beneficial effects of physical activity on skeletal muscle mass.

Clustering of Sedentary Behaviours, Physical Activity, and Energy-Dense Food Intake in Six-Year-Old Children: Associations with Family Socioeconomic Status

“…The co-occurrence of high physical activity and high calorie-rich snacks and drinks consumption is consistent with a review in adults that reported exercise-induced increase in energy intake is typically compensated for by energy-dense food and drinks [ 33 ]. Consumption of calorie-rich snacks and sugary drinks may attenuate the beneficial effects of physical activity on skeletal mass [ 34 ] and the maintenance of body weight [ 33 ]. We also found that children of mothers with low educational level had higher odds of being allocated in the “physically active, high snacks and sugary drinks” cluster, but household income was not associated with being allocated to this cluster.…”

Risk Factors for Decrease in The Cross-Sectional Area of the Paraspinal Muscle in 1,849 Individuals: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study

“…Our study con rms these trends and adds evidence to the amount of physical activity required. Hao et al reported an association between the skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and physical activity for 640 adolescents in short-term outcomes and suggested that SMMI was positively associated with physical activity 25 . However, there is limited knowledge regarding the association between skeletal muscle mass changes and the amount of physical activity for individuals aged 30-60.…”

Musculoskeletal Changes Across the Lifespan: Nutrition and the Life-Course Approach to Prevention

“…Several hormonal factors like testosterone, growth hormone, and IGF-1, which are stimulated by physical activity, in turn, promote muscle mass accretion during adolescence ( 117 ). Recently, Hao et al ( 118 ) reported an association between moderate and vigorous physical activity with greater skeletal muscle mass in adolescents. On the contrary, they found that a diet rich in saturated fatty acids and sweetened soft drinks was associated with a lower muscle mass, also suggesting an attenuation of the beneficial effects of physical activity on muscle mass accretion during adolescence.…”