Physical activity and healthy weight maintenance from childhood to adulthood

The Effect of an Early Life Motor Skill Intervention on Physical Activity in Growth-Restricted Mice

INTRODUCTION

Early life growth restriction significantly increases the risk of adulthood physical inactivity and thereby chronic disease incidence. Improvements in motor skill acquisition could result in greater physical activity engagement in the growth-restricted population, thus reducing chronic disease risk. The purpose of this study was to implement an early life motor training intervention to improve physical activity engagement in control and growth-restricted mice.

METHODS

Mice were growth restricted in early life utilizing a validated nutritive model or remained fully nourished in early life as a control. All mice were tested throughout early life for various components of motor skill acquisition. On postnatal day 10, mice were randomly assigned to engage in an early life motor skill intervention daily until postnatal day 21 or remained as a sedentary control. All mice were given access to an in-cage running wheel from postnatal days 45-70.

RESULTS

Growth-restricted group (PGR) mice had impaired trunk and postural control, coordination/vestibular development, and hindlimb strength in early life compared with control mice. There were no differences in wheel running behavior between the trained and sedentary mice, although control mice ran at a faster average speed compared with PGR mice. Control female mice ran more than PGR female mice during the week 2 dark cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

Early life growth restriction reduced motor skill attainment throughout early life, which may be associated with reduced ability to engage in physical activity in adulthood. The early life motor skill intervention did not elicit changes in body weight or physical activity engagement in control or PGR mice, indicating that a more intense/different intervention specifically targeting skeletal muscle may be necessary to counteract the detrimental effects of early life growth restriction.

Risk factors for left ventricular dysfunction in adulthood: role of low birth weight

Aims

This study aimed to determine the relationship of low birth weight (LBW) with adult cardiac structure and function and investigate potential causal pathways.

Methods and results

A population‐based sample of 925 Australians (41.3% male) were followed from childhood (aged 7–15 years) to young adulthood (aged 26–36 years) and mid‐adulthood (aged 36–50 years). Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS, %), LV mass index (LVMi, g/m^2.7), LV filling pressure (E/e′), and left atrial volume index (g/m²) were measured by transthoracic echocardiography in mid‐adulthood. Birth weight category was self‐reported in young adulthood and classified as low (≤5 lb or ≤2270 g), normal (5–8 lb or 2271–3630 g), and high (>8 lb or >3630 g). Of the 925 participants, 7.5% (n = 69) were classified as LBW. Compared with participants with normal birth weight, those with LBW had 2.01‐fold (95% confidence interval: 1.19, 3.41, P = 0.009) higher risks of impaired GLS (GLS > −18%) and 2.63‐fold (95% confidence interval: 0.89, 7.81, P = 0.08) higher risks of LV hypertrophy (LVMi > 48 g/m^2.7 in men or >44 g/m^2.7 in women) in adulthood, independent of age, sex, and any socio‐economic factors. Participants with LBW significantly increased body fat from childhood to adulthood relative to their peers and had greater levels of triglycerides, fasting glucose, and arterial stiffness in adulthood. These risk factors were the strongest mediators and explained 54% of the LBW effect size on adult GLS and 33% of the LBW effect size on LVMi. The remaining of these associations was independent of any of the measured risk factors.

Conclusions

Low birth weight was associated with impaired cardiac structure and function in mid‐adulthood. This association was only partially explained by known risk factors.

The Assessment of Lifestyle Status among High School and College Students in Luzon, Philippines

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle has been one of the central subjects of increasing research interest worldwide and acknowledged as part of the relevant factors of an individual's health status. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease. The purpose of this study is to assess lifestyle status among high school and college students and to explore which sociodemographic variables have influenced such existing healthy lifestyle behaviors.

METHODS

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted among 230 students from the high school and college. The questionnaire included descriptive information and the Healthy Lifestyle Screening Tool (HLST) to assess lifestyle scores among students from the high school and college. Socio-demographic characteristics of students included were perceived family income, domestic status or people living with, school life satisfaction, happiness rate, and self-rated health status.

RESULTS

The results of this study showed the significance of lifestyle status among high school and college students having total scores of 106.56 (SD = 28.11) and 100.9 (32.91) respectively. Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics had significance in perceived economic status, life satisfaction, health status, and happiness rate. Furthermore, healthy lifestyle subcomponents had significant differences in water, air, rest, exercise, nutrition, and trust.

CONCLUSION

Healthy lifestyle status among students both in high school and college is low specifically in components such as sunlight, water, air, rest, exercise, nutrition, temperance as well as the general physical condition. Adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors among students are needing emphasis and guidance through promotion and education. Health education programs and promotions in institutions need to be carried out and be well-implemented for students to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Factors associated with muscular fitness phenotypes in Australian children: A cross-sectional study

To help inform strategies aimed at increasing muscular fitness levels, we examined factors associated with childhood muscular fitness (strength and power) that preceded the recently observed secular decline. Data were available from a nationally representative sample of Australian children aged 7-15 years in 1985 (n = 8469). Muscular fitness measures included strength (right and left grip, shoulder extension and flexion, and leg strength) and power (standing long jump distance). Anthropometric (adiposity, fat-free mass), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), flexibility, speed capability, physical activity (individual and parental), dietary quality and intake (fruit, vegetable, protein) and sociodemographic (area-level socioeconomic status (SES), school type) data were available. Statistical analyses included sex-stratified linear regression. Of all examined factors, measures of adiposity, fat-free mass, CRF, flexibility and speed capability were associated with muscular fitness at levels that met Cohen's threshold for important effects (r-squared = 0.02 to 0.28). These findings highlight the multifactorial relationship between muscular fitness and its determinants. Collectively, these factors were powerful in explaining muscular strength (females: r-squared = 0.32; males: r-squared = 0.41) and muscular power (females: r-squared = 0.36; males: r-squared = 0.42). These findings highlight modifiable and environmental factors that could be targeted to increase childhood muscular fitness.

Factors Associated with Persistently High Muscular Power from Childhood to Adulthood

PURPOSE

Child and adult muscular power have been shown to associate with contemporary cardiometabolic health. Muscular power typically persists (tracks) between childhood and adulthood. Few studies span childhood to adulthood, so we aimed to identify modifiable and environmental factors associated with the persistence or change in muscular power across the life course.

METHODS

Prospective study examining 1938 participants who had their muscular power (standing long jump distance) measured in 1985 as children 7-15 yr old and again 20 yr later in adulthood (26-36 yr old). A selection of objectively measured anthropometric characteristics (adiposity and fat-free mass), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), self-reported physical activity, dietary (quality and fruit, vegetable, and protein intake), and sociodemographic data were available at both time points. Muscular power was separated into thirds, and participants were reported as having persistently low, decreasing, persistently moderate, increasing, or persistently high muscular power.

RESULTS

Higher adiposity, lower physical activity, diet quality and socioeconomic status (SES) across the life course, and lower adult CRF were associated with persistently low muscular power. Lower adult protein intake and an increase in adiposity over time were associated with decreasing muscular power. An increase in fat-free mass was associated with a reduced probability of decreasing or persistently high muscular power and an increased probability of increasing muscular power. Higher adult fruit intake was associated with increasing muscular power. Lower adiposity across the life course, higher adult CRF and SES, and higher child protein intake were associated with persistently high muscular power.

CONCLUSION

Healthy weight, good CRF, greater protein intake, and high SES are important correlates of high muscular power maintained from childhood to adulthood.

Link between Physical Activity Type in Adolescence and Body Composition in Adulthood

PURPOSE

We investigated whether type of physical activity (PA) (sports, running, and fitness/dance) engaged in during adolescence is associated with body composition in late adolescence or early adulthood.

METHODS

Data were drawn from 631 participants in the Nicotine Dependence in Teens study, a prospective investigation of students ages 12-13 yr at inception. Self-report PA data were collected at baseline, in grade 7, and every 3-4 months thereafter during the 5 yr of high school (1999-2005). Anthropometric indicators (height, weight, waist circumference, triceps, and subscapular skinfold thickness) were measured at ages 12, 16, and 24 yr. On the basis of prior exploratory factor analysis, PA was categorized into one of three types (sports, running, and fitness/dance). Regression models estimated the association between number of years participating in each PA type (0-5 yr) during high school and body composition measures in later adolescence or early adulthood.

RESULTS

In multivariable models accounting for age, sex, and parent education, more number of years participating in running during adolescence was associated with lower body mass index, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness in later adolescence and early adulthood (all P < 0.01). This association was no longer apparent in models that accounted for body composition at age 12 yr. The number of years participating in sports was positively associated with body mass index in early adulthood (P = 0.02), but fitness/dance was not statistically significantly associated with any outcome.

CONCLUSION

Sustaining participation in running, but not in other PA types, during adolescence was related to lower body composition in later adolescence and adulthood. However, more research is needed to determine whether this association is attributable to a relationship between PA and body composition in early adolescence.

Cardiovascular fitness, physical activity, and metabolic syndrome risk factors among adolescent estonian boys: A longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to examine the changes in metabolic syndrome risk factors over a 2-year period, and to investigate the independent influence of baseline physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular fitness (CVF) on these changes.

METHODS

120 Estonian boys (age at baseline 11.9 ± 0.1 years) were grouped according to baseline PA or CVF/kg (VO_2max/kg ) and CVF/_LBM (VO_2max/LBM ). PA was assessed by 7-day accelerometry. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TRG), insulin and glucose were measured and assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and TC/HDL ratio were calculated.

RESULTS

In both CVF/_kg and CVF/_LBM , the low CVF groups had significantly higher values of HOMA-IR (P < 0.009) over time. In TRG and TC/HDL ratio values the only significant difference over time emerged between CVF/_kg groups (P < 0.001). Participants in high metabolic risk CVF/_kg group were 5.9 times more likely to have high HOMA-IR values, 2.9 times more likely to have high triglyceride values, and 3.5 times more likely to have high TC/HDL ratio values (P ≤ 0.045) in the second year follow-up compared to those who were in the low metabolic risk CVF/_kg group. In moderate-to-vigorous PA groups there were no significant differences between HOMA-IR, TRG, and TC/HDL ratio values over time.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicate that CVF has a stronger longitudinal prediction value compared to moderate to vigorous physical activity in terms of metabolic risk factors in adolescent boys. Fitness remained a significant predictor if the influence of body fatness was removed from the analysis. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:782-788, 2016. © 2016Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Early-life socioeconomic status and physical activity in later life: evidence from structural equation models

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the association between early-life socioeconomic status (SES) at age 18 and physical activity (PA) at age 65, elucidates mechanisms explaining this association, and explores gender differences in mediating pathways.

METHODS

Multigroup structural equation modeling is applied to the 1957 to 2004 data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS).

RESULTS

Early-life SES is positively associated with exercise in later life. This association is mediated by socioeconomic resources, health problems, obesity, and depressive symptoms (women only) in 1993 and sports participation in 1957. All mediators explain over 95% of the effect of early-life SES.

DISCUSSION

This study emphasizes the importance of complex multiple pathways linking early family SES to later-life PA. We identify chains of risks that need to be broken to improve PA among older adults. Our findings also suggest that interventions aimed at maintaining optimal physical functioning in old age should begin at least at midlife.

The use of web-based interventions to prevent excessive weight gain

We reviewed web-based interventions for overweight and obesity prevention. A literature search was conducted using seven electronic databases. Manually searched articles were also included. Thirty studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 13 studied physical activity, eight studied dietary practices and nine studied a combination of physical activity and dietary practice. Twenty-eight of the studies (93%) reported positive changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity level, fruit and vegetable intake and psychological factors. A meta-analysis showed there were improvements, though not significant, in fruit and vegetable consumption (standardised mean difference, SMD = 0.61; 95% CI =-0.13 to 1.35) and physical activity (SMD = 0.15; 95% CI =-0.06 to 0.35). The review suggests that web-based interventions are a useful educational tool for increasing awareness and making healthy behaviour changes in relation to an excessive weight gain problem.

Development of youth aerobic-capacity standards using receiver operating characteristic curves

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular fitness has important implications for current and future health in children.

PURPOSE

In this paper, criterion-referenced standards are developed for aerobic capacity (an indicator of cardiovascular fitness) based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

METHODS

The sample was drawn from participants aged 12-18 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002, N=1966). Subjects completed a treadmill exercise test from which maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) was estimated from heart rate response. Metabolic syndrome was classified using previously published standards based on the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III adult values at age 20 years. Using aerobic fitness z-scores as the test and metabolic syndrome as the criterion, ROC curve analysis was used to identify aerobic-capacity thresholds.

RESULTS

The area under the curve (AUC) value for boys (83.1%) was high, indicating good utility for detecting risk of metabolic syndrome with aerobic fitness values. The AUC for girls (77.2%) was slightly below the recommended value of 80%. Although the ROC plots identified a defensible point for classifying levels of fitness, the approach in the present study was to establish two independent thresholds, one aimed at high specificity and one aimed at high sensitivity. The resulting z values for the low- and higher-risk threshold lines were then converted back to VO(2)max estimates using published LMS (L=skewness, M=median, and S=coefficient of variation) parameters. Values at the low-risk threshold ranged from 40 to 44 mL/kg/min for boys and from 38 to 40 mL/kg/min for girls.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, aerobic fitness can be used with moderate accuracy to differentiate between adolescents with and without metabolic syndrome. Age- and gender-specific aerobic-capacity thresholds for creating separate risk groups were identified using nationally representative growth percentiles.

Socioeconomic position and the tracking of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness from childhood to adulthood

This study examined the influence of childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and social mobility on activity and fitness tracking from childhood into adulthood. In a prospective cohort of 2,185 Australian adults (aged 26-36 years), first examined in 1985 (at ages 7-15 years), self-reported physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness (subsample only) were measured. SEP measures included retrospectively reported parental education (baseline) and own education (follow-up). There was little evidence of a relation between childhood SEP and activity tracking, but high childhood SEP (maternal education) was associated with a 59% increased likelihood of persistent fitness, and medium childhood SEP (paternal and parental education) was associated with a 33%-36% decreased likelihood of persistent fitness. Upward social mobility was associated with a greater likelihood of increasing activity (38%-49%) and fitness (90%), and persistently high SEP was associated with a greater likelihood of increasing activity (males: 58%) and fitness (males and females combined: 89%). In conclusion, persistently high SEP and upward social mobility were associated with increases in activity and fitness from childhood to adulthood. Findings highlight socioeconomic differentials in activity and fitness patterns and suggest that improvements in education may represent a pathway through which physical activity levels can be increased and health benefits achieved.

Update on physical activity including special needs populations

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Childhood obesity rates remain high, especially among adolescents, minorities, and children with disabilities. The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association have released recommendations for childhood obesity treatment and prevention which include interventions related to physical and sedentary activity. This review explores recent updates in the area of physical activity and sedentary behavior related to these recommendations as well as emerging evidence relevant to physical activity among children with disabilities.

RECENT FINDINGS

Safety and access are among some of the environmental barriers to children's participation in extracurricular physical activity that need to be addressed. Analyses of the relationship between physical activity and sedentary screen time continue to show inconsistent results, although evidence in support of active video games is increasing. Children with disabilities are a special subpopulation for whom physical activity should particularly be encouraged.

SUMMARY

Increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviors are essential components of obesity management in children with and without disabilities. Pediatric providers are encouraged to address barriers to physical activity with all families and act as advocates for changes in the local community that support access to physical activity for all children.