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Longitudinal Physical Activity, Body Composition, and Physical Fitness in Preschoolers
Marja H Leppänen1, Pontus Henriksson, Christine Delisle Nyström
11Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, FINLAND; 2Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Linkoping University, Linkoping, SWEDEN; 3Promoting Fitness and Health through Physical Activity Research Group (PROFITH), Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, SPAIN; 4Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, NOVUM, Huddinge, SWEDEN; and 5Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI.
Insights
Higher vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in 4.5-year-old children are linked to better body composition and physical fitness a year later. Promoting VPA in early childhood may offer lasting health benefits, especially for muscular strength.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Exercise Science
- Childhood Obesity
Background:
- Childhood body composition and physical fitness are crucial for long-term health.
- Understanding the impact of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in early childhood is essential.
- Longitudinal data on objectively measured PA and SB in preschoolers are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the 12-month associations between objectively measured PA and SB and body composition in 4-year-old children.
- To investigate the relationship between PA/SB and physical fitness outcomes at follow-up.
- To assess the impact of different intensities of PA and SB on health markers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 138 children in the control group of the MINISTOP trial.
- Assessed PA and SB using accelerometers over seven 24-hour periods.
- Measured body composition via air-displacement plethysmography and physical fitness using the PREFIT battery.
Main Results:
- Increased vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) at 4.5 years were associated with higher fat-free mass index (FFMI) at 5.5 years.
- Higher VPA and MVPA correlated with improved cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscular strength, and better motor fitness.
- Replacing sedentary behavior or lower-intensity PA with VPA showed positive associations with FFMI and muscular strength.
Conclusions:
- Higher levels of VPA and MVPA in early childhood are linked to improved body composition and physical fitness.
- Promoting high-intensity PA in young children may yield sustained benefits for body composition and physical fitness.
- Targeting VPA in early childhood interventions could enhance muscular strength and overall physical health.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate longitudinal associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with body composition and physical fitness at a 12-month follow-up in healthy Swedish 4-yr-old children.
Methods:
The data from the population-based MINISTOP trial were collected between 2014 and 2016, and this study included the 138 children who were in the control group. PA and SB were assessed using the wrist-worn ActiGraph (wGT3x-BT) accelerometer during seven 24-h periods and, subsequently, defined as SB, light-intensity PA, moderate-intensity PA, vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Body composition was measured using air-displacement plethysmography and physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, lower and upper muscular strength as well as motor fitness) by the PREFIT fitness battery. Linear regression and isotemporal substitution models were applied.
Results:
Greater VPA and MVPA at the age of 4.5 yr were associated with higher fat-free mass index (FFMI) at 5.5 yr (P < 0.001 and P = 0.044, respectively). Furthermore, greater VPA and MVPA at the age of 4.5 yr were associated with higher scores for cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscular strength, and motor fitness at 12-month follow-up (P = 0.001 to P = 0.031). Substituting 5 min·d of SB, light-intensity PA, or moderate-intensity PA for VPA at the age of 4.5 yr were associated with higher FFMI, and with greater upper and lower muscular strength at 12-month follow-up (P < 0.001 to P = 0.046).
Conclusion:
Higher VPA and MVPA at the age of 4.5 yr were significantly associated with higher FFMI and better physical fitness at 12-month follow-up. Our results indicate that promoting high-intensity PA at young ages may have long-term beneficial effects on childhood body composition and physical fitness, in particular muscular strength.
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