Birth size and physical activity in a cohort of Indian children aged 6-10 years

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Human Biology

Background:

• Childhood physical activity in India has declined.
• Understanding factors influencing physical activity is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between birth size and body composition with physical activity in school-aged children.
• To determine if early life measurements predict later physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational cohort study in Mysore, South India.
• Neonatal anthropometric measurements (weight, MUAC, circumferences, lengths, skinfolds) were taken within 72 hours of birth.
• Objective physical activity assessment using accelerometers (AM7164 or GT1M Actigraph) for 7 days in children aged 6-10 years.
• Body composition (body fat percentage) measured within 6 months of activity monitoring.

Main Results:

• No significant associations were found between any neonatal anthropometric measures (birth size, skinfold thickness) and objectively measured physical activity.
• A negative association was observed between body fat percentage at 7.5 years and all physical activity variables (mean accelerometer counts per minute, counts per day, and proportion of time in moderate-vigorous activity).

Conclusions:

• Birth size and early life body composition do not appear to predict objectively measured physical activity in childhood.
• Higher body fat percentage in later childhood is associated with lower physical activity levels, suggesting a focus on childhood body composition for promoting activity.