Associations Between Anthropometric Indicators in Early Life and Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Time in Adolescence
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthBackground: To explore the associations between birth weight and body mass index (BMI) from 6 months to 6 years of age, with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity, and sedentary time in adolescence. Methods: Retrospective school-based study with 539 adolescents (292 girls), mean age of 13.94 (1.62) years. Anthropometric data from birth up to 6 years were extracted from individual child health booklets. CRF was estimated by 20-m shuttle run test. Physical activity and sedentary time were assessed with accelerometers. Results: Birth weight was not associated with any outcome measured in adolescence. From the age of 6 months onwards in girls, and from 3 years in boys, BMI associated inversely with CRF in adolescence. In girls, BMI (at 12 mo and at 3 y of age) associated positively with sedentary time in adolescence, but not with physical activity. In boys, positive associations between BMI at the ages of 3, 5, and 6 years old and time spent in some intensities of physical activity in adolescence were found. Conclusions: BMI during the early years was negatively associated with CRF in adolescence, in a consistent way, for both genders, but with physical activity and sedentary time the associations were scarce and inconsistent, depending on the gender.
Oliveira-Santos, Santos, Moreira, Abreu, Lopes, and Mota are with the Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Abreu is also with the Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports, Lusófona University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Agostinis-Sobrinho is with the Faculty of Health Sciences, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania.
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