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Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical Activity Level Using Doubly-Labeled Water in Relation to Body Composition and Physical Fitness in
Marja H Leppänen1,2, Pontus Henriksson3,4, Hanna Henriksson5
1Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, FI-40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland. marja.h.leppanen@jyu.fi.
Insights
Higher physical activity level (PAL) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) in 5.5-year-old children are linked to lower body fatness and better muscular strength. Promoting physical activity in early childhood may help prevent obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Childhood Obesity Research
- Exercise Physiology in Children
Background:
- Limited research exists on physical activity level (PAL) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) in relation to body composition and fitness in young children.
- The doubly-labeled water (DLW) method is a gold standard for measuring total energy expenditure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-sectional associations of PAL and AEE with body composition and physical fitness in Swedish preschool children.
- To understand the relationship between energy expenditure metrics and health indicators in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the doubly-labeled water (DLW) method to measure total energy expenditure in 40 preschool children (aged 5.5 years).
- Calculated PAL and AEE, assessed body composition using the 3-component model, and evaluated physical fitness with the PREFIT test battery.
- Employed multiple linear regression models to analyze associations.
Main Results:
- PAL and AEE were significantly negatively associated with body mass index, percent body fat, and fat mass index.
- Both PAL and AEE showed significant positive associations with performance on the standing long jump test.
- No significant associations were found between PAL or AEE and fat-free mass index or other fitness components.
Conclusions:
- Higher physical activity and energy expenditure in 5.5-year-old children correlate with reduced body fatness and enhanced lower-body muscular strength.
- Increasing physical activity and energy expenditure in early childhood may be a strategy for overweight and obesity prevention.
- Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to validate these findings.
Abstract:
Background and objectives: There is a lack of studies investigating associations of physical activity level (PAL) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) using the doubly-labeled water (DLW) method with body composition and physical fitness in young children. Thus, we aimed to examine cross-sectional associations of PAL and AEE with body composition indices and physical fitness components in Swedish preschool children. Materials and methods: PAL was calculated as total energy expenditure measured using DLW divided by the predicted basal metabolic rate in 40 children aged 5.5 (standard deviation 0.2) years. AEE was calculated as total energy expenditure minus basal metabolic rate and the thermic effect of food, and divided by fat-free mass. Body composition was assessed using the 3-component model by combining measurements based on isotope dilution and air-displacement plethysmography. Physical fitness (muscular strength, motor fitness, and cardiorespiratory fitness) was evaluated using the PREFIT test battery. Multiple linear regression models were conducted. Results: PAL and AEE were negatively associated with body mass index, percent body fat, and fat mass index (PAL: standardized β -0.35, -0.41, and -0.45, all p < 0.036; AEE: standardized β -0.44, -0.44, and -0.47, all p < 0.006, respectively). Furthermore, PAL and AEE were positively associated with the standing long jump test (PAL: standardized β 0.37, p = 0.017; AEE: standardized β 0.38, p = 0.014). There were no statistically significant associations found regarding PAL or AEE with fat-free mass index or any other physical fitness test. Conclusions: Greater PAL and AEE at the age 5.5 were significantly associated with body fatness and improved lower-body muscular strength. Therefore, increasing physical activity, and thus energy expenditure, at young ages may be beneficial for preventing overweight/obesity. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the results.
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