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Link between Physical Activity Type in Adolescence and Body Composition in Adulthood
Mathieu Belanger1,1,1, Tarun R Katapally1,1, Tracie A Barnett1,1
1Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, CANADA.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|December 7, 2017
Summary
Sustained running during adolescence is linked to better body composition later in life. However, the association may depend on early adolescent body composition, requiring further research.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Science
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Adolescent physical activity (PA) influences long-term health.
- Understanding the impact of different PA types on body composition is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between adolescent physical activity types (sports, running, fitness/dance) and body composition in late adolescence/early adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 631 adolescents (ages 12-13 at baseline).
- Self-reported PA data collected over 5 high school years.
- Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference, skinfolds) taken at ages 12, 16, and 24.
Main Results:
- More years of running associated with lower BMI, waist circumference, and skinfolds (P < 0.01).
- Running association diminished when controlling for baseline body composition.
- More years of sports linked to higher BMI in early adulthood (P = 0.02).
Conclusions:
- Sustained running in adolescence relates to lower body composition later in life.
- Further research needed to clarify the role of early adolescent body composition in this relationship.
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