Birthweight, body composition, and motor performance in 7‐ to 10‐year‐old children

Abstract

FFMFat-free mass KTK K€ orper Koordination Test f€ ur Kinder VO 2max Maximal oxygen consumption AIM The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of birthweight on motor performance and body composition in children. Further, we investigated whether associations between birthweight and motor performance changed after adjustment for current height, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), and % body fat.METHOD A total of 483 children (251 males and 232 females) aged 7 to 10 years (mean 8.78, SD 1.0y) born in Vit oria Santo Antão (northeast Brazil) were sampled. Motor performance was operationalized using different physical fitness components and gross motor coordination. Physical fitness was measured by handgrip strength, muscle endurance, explosive power, flexibility, agility, running speed, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ). Gross motor coordination was evaluated by means of the K€ orper Koordination Test f€ ur Kinder (KTK).RESULTS Positive correlations between birthweight and height, BMI, and FFM were found.Birthweight was positively correlated with handgrip strength and negatively correlated with 20-meter sprint time, even after controlling for age, height, BMI, FFM, and % body fat. Birthweight was negatively associated with relative VO 2max (mL/kg/min); however, the association was no longer significant after inclusion of BMI or FFM in the model. INTERPRETATIONBirthweight significantly predicted height, BMI, FFM, and performance in strength and velocity tests, but did not influence gross motor coordination.Physical activity and fitness have a protective effect on metabolic risk factors during childhood, 1 as well as on premature morbidity and mortality in adulthood. 2,3 Poor motor performance could lead to reduced participation in physical activity and sports, which could potentially increase the health risks associated with physical inactivity. Thus, a better understanding of the determinants of poor motor performance may lead to the development of better intervention strategies with the long-term potential of improving physical activity and health.Previous studies have indicated that low birthweight is associated with faster infant growth, abdominal fat accumulation, high blood pressure during adolescence, and the risk of metabolic diseases in adulthood. 4 A recent metaanalysis conducted by Yu et al. 5 showed that low birthweight was associated with decreased odds of obesity (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.46-0.80), while high birthweight (>4000g) was associated with increased odds of obesity (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.91-2.24). Similarly, low birthweight was also associated with a decreased odds of overweight (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.59-0.76), while high birthweight (>4000g) was associated with increased odds of overweight (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.55-1.77).6 Using a twin sample (aged 8.9y old), a previous study reported that birthweight accounted for up to 11% of the total variance of neuromotor performance. 7 Our previous study showed that low birthweight alone cannot be considered as a biological determinant of physi...

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