Low birth weight and its relation to physical fitness parameters in children: Its negative effect on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory endurance

Abstract

Background There is increasing evidence that low birth weight has a negative effect on physical fitness, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance, although the findings are inconsistent. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate whether birth weight acts as a prenatal determinant of physical fitness parameters and to determine the role of environmental or biological variables on this effect. Methods One hundred and sixty‐seven children aged 6–14 years were included in this study. The anthropometric data, physical activity index, standing long jump, flexibility, handgrip strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness were evaluated. Results A positive correlation was found between birth weight and cardiorespiratory fitness (r = .349; p < .001), right handgrip strength (r = .337; p < .001), and left handgrip strength (r = .320; p < .001), suggesting that children with low birth weight had the worst performance in both cardiorespiratory endurance and grip strength tests. These findings remained significant after adjustment for prematurity, sex, age, physical activity index, and body mass index (BMI). Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed a significant interaction of high birth weight, older age, and low BMI in predicting better cardiorespiratory endurance (R2 = .308). When handgrip strength was tested as the dependent variable, we found that high birth weight, male sex, and older age emerged as important determinants for both sides. Conclusion Children aged 6–14 years born with a birth weight < 2.5 kg have low handgrip strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, which seems to be mediated partially by influences of both prenatal environment (e.g., birth weight) and biological variables (e.g., age, sex, BMI).

Paediatric dominant and non-dominant handgrip reference curves and the association with body composition

“…Grip strength, measured by handheld dynamometer, is an accessible, inexpensive, and accurate measurement of muscle fitness and strength. In population studies, it provides information about overall fitness and health ( Yuki et al 2023 ; de Souza et al 2022 ), and in the clinical setting, it is useful for assessing effects of disease processes, medications, or behaviour such as physical inactivity on muscle mass and function ( Dougherty et al 2011 ; Hogan et al 2020 ; Meyer et al 2022 ; de Koning et al 2023 ). However, the utility of handgrip strength measures in children is limited by a lack of adequate reference data from which to calculate Z-scores relative to age and gender with adjustment for body size.…”

Sibling rivalry between twins in utero and childhood: Evidence from birthweight and survival of 95 919 twin pairs in 72 low‐ and middle‐income countries

“…Researchers have often found larger birthweights to be associated with greater educational attainment, attained height, and many economic outcomes (Behrman & Rosenzweig, 2004; Black et al, 2007; de Souza et al, 2022. ; Justin Cook & Fletcher, 2015; Lin & Liu, 2009; Rosenzweig & Zhang, 2013).…”

“…Researchers have often found larger birthweights to be associated with greater educational attainment, attained height, and many economic outcomes (Behrman & Rosenzweig, 2004;Black et al, 2007;de Souza et al, 2022.;Justin Cook & Fletcher, 2015;Lin & Liu, 2009;Rosenzweig & Zhang, 2013). Birthweight itself has a complex etiology relating to genetic predispositions, maternal size, and nutritional status as well as the infant's gestational age, and infants could grow to be healthy from a very wide range of birthweights (Almond et al, 2005;Maruyama & Heinesen, 2020).…”

Birth weight and nutritional status in school‐age children from Boane city, Mozambique

“…In the capital Maputo, the high rate of infant mortality (63.9 per thousand) is concentrated within the neonatal period because of the prevalence of LBW and small for gestational age (SGA) (Garcia‐Basteiro et al, 2017). LBW children who survive are more likely to suffer stunted growth during infancy and into adulthood, increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes (de Souza et al, 2022; Gima & Nakamura, 2022; Poveda et al, 2023). Furthermore, previous studies in Maputo have shown that LBW children were lighter and smaller than normal birth‐weight children and presented deficits in neuromotor development and physical fitness (dos Santos et al, 2014; Tchamo et al, 2017).…”