The association between physical activity, physical fitness and development of metabolic disorders
Lars B Andersen1, Anna Bugge, Magnus Dencker
1Center for Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sport Sciences and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230 Denmark. lboandersen@health.sdu.dk
Insights
Cardiovascular risk factors do not cluster in six-year-olds but do by age nine. Low cardiorespiratory fitness at age nine significantly increases the risk of clustered cardiovascular disease risk factors in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors can cluster in children, but the developmental timing is unclear.
- Previous research indicated clustering from age nine, but recent findings showed no clustering at age six.
- Understanding when CVD risk factor clustering emerges is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of cardiovascular disease risk factor clustering in children.
- To identify the age at which CVD risk factors begin to cluster.
- To examine the relationship between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and CVD risk factor clustering.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study followed 484 children from age six to nine.
- Follow-up data was collected from 434 children three years later.
- Clustering of five CVD risk factors (HOMA, cholesterol:HDL ratio, TG, systolic BP, skinfolds) was assessed, with physical activity and fitness as independent variables.
Main Results:
- At age six, CVD risk factors were independently distributed, with no association between composite risk score and fitness or activity levels.
- Clustering of CVD risk factors was evident by age nine, with a significantly higher observed number of children having three or more risk factors than expected.
- Children in the lowest quartile of fitness at age nine had a substantially higher risk (34.9 times) of clustered risk compared to the most fit quartile.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular disease risk factor clustering develops between the ages of six and nine years.
- Low cardiorespiratory fitness at age nine is strongly associated with the presence of clustered CVD risk factors.
- These findings highlight the importance of fitness in mitigating CVD risk during childhood.
Background:
Cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors have been shown to cluster in some children. This has been shown in children from the age of nine years, but recently we found no clustering in six-year old children. It is uncertain when clustering develops and which parameters are related to the development of clustered CVD risk.
Methods:
A longitudinal study including 484 children aged six years. Three years later, 434 children participated in a follow-up. The main outcome was clustering of five CVD risk factors: homeostasis assessment insulin resistance (HOMA), total cholesterol:HDL ratio, triglyceride (TG), systolic blood pressure and sum of four skinfolds. Independent variables were physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Results:
CVD risk factors were independently distributed in the six-year-olds, and there was no association between composite risk factor score and physical fitness or activity even if there were obese and unfit children in the population. Clustering of CVD risk factors was found at the age of nine years, and the observed number with three or more CVD risk factors was 3.33 (95% CI: 1.41-7.87) times higher than expected if risk factors had been independently distributed. At the age of nine years, the lowest quartile of fitness had 34.9 (95% CI: 8.0-152.5) times higher risk of having clustered risk than the most fit quartile.
Conclusion:
Clustering of CVD risk factors developed between the age of six and nine years. At nine years of age clustered CVD risk was highly associated with low fitness level.
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