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Birthweight, body composition, and motor performance in 7‐ to 10‐year‐old children
Author(s) -
MouraDosSantos Marcos André,
De Almeida Marcelus Brito,
ManhãesDeCastro Raul,
Katzmarzyk Peter T,
Maia José António Ribeiro,
Leandro Carol Góis
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.12664
Subject(s) - sprint , gross motor skill , vo2 max , body mass index , explosive strength , demography , medicine , physical fitness , physical therapy , body adiposity index , psychology , motor skill , fat mass , developmental psychology , classification of obesity , heart rate , sociology , blood pressure
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 Vitória 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 Körper Koordination Test für 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. Interpretation Birthweight significantly predicted height, BMI , FFM , and performance in strength and velocity tests, but did not influence gross motor coordination.