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Lean mass accretion in children born very low birth weight is significantly associated with estimated changes from

Meghan McGee1,2, Sharon Unger1,3,4,5, Jill Hamilton1,3,6

  • 1Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Pediatric Obesity
|January 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Promoting light physical activity (LPA) and reducing sedentary time in children born very low birth weight (VLBW) supports lean mass accretion. This may help mitigate risks of obesity and metabolic syndrome later in life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Body Composition Research
  • Lifestyle and Health

Background:

  • Children born very low birth weight (VLBW) face heightened risks for obesity and metabolic syndrome.
  • Limited research exists on lifestyle factors influencing body composition in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between physical activity, sedentary time, sleep, and body composition in 5.5-year-old children born VLBW.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving 158 children born VLBW.
  • Collected data on height, weight, body composition (using skinfolds and air displacement plethysmography).
  • Utilized 7-day movement data from logbooks and accelerometers to assess physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep.

Main Results:

  • Only 52% of participants met moderate-to-vigorous physical activity recommendations, while 96% met sleep recommendations.
  • Replacing 30 minutes of sedentary time with light physical activity (LPA) was linked to a significant increase in fat-free mass index.
  • Conversely, reallocating LPA to sedentary time showed an inverse association with fat-free mass index.

Conclusions:

  • Encouraging LPA and decreasing sedentary time are crucial strategies for enhancing lean mass in VLBW children.
  • These lifestyle modifications may play a key role in reducing the long-term risks of obesity and metabolic syndrome in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
body compositionobesityphysical activitypretermvery low birth weight

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