Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions
Published on: June 5, 2019
Relationship between heart rate variability and body mass index: A cross-sectional study of preschool children
Kathryn E Speer1,2, Julian Koenig3, Rohan M Telford2
1Faculty of Health, Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science/University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Insights
Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is linked to higher body mass index (BMI) in young Australian children. This inverse relationship between vagally-mediated HRV and BMI was observed in children aged 3-5 years, independent of other factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric cardiology
- Autonomic nervous system function
- Childhood obesity research
Background:
- Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a known indicator of cardiometabolic risk in adults.
- The association between HRV and weight status in early childhood remains under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between vagally-mediated HRV and body mass index (BMI) in Australian preschool children.
- To determine if this relationship differs from that observed in adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 146 healthy Australian children aged 3-5 years.
- Measured body mass index (BMI) and assessed vagally-mediated HRV using root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD).
- Employed linear mixed models, adjusting for age, sex, and physical activity.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse linear relationship was found between vagally-mediated HRV (RMSSD) and BMI in preschool children.
- Each one-unit increase in BMI corresponded to a 0.06 decrease in ln(RMSSD).
- The observed relationship was independent of age, sex, and physical activity levels.
Conclusions:
- Vagally-mediated HRV is inversely associated with BMI in preschool-aged children, mirroring findings in adults.
- This relationship suggests that autonomic nervous system regulation may be influenced by weight status from an early age.
- Findings highlight the potential role of HRV in assessing cardiometabolic health in young children.
Abstract:
Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with overweight and obesity in adults. However, little is known about this relationship in early childhood. We investigated the relationship between resting vagally-mediated HRV and body mass index (BMI) in Australian preschool children. Children were recruited from 13 non-government early learning centres located in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. From this population-based sample, data from 146 healthy children (58 females) between 3 and 5 years of age (mean age 4.35 ± 0.44 years) were analysed. BMI was calculated from child body weight and height. Physical activity was recorded using an Actigraph wGT3x accelerometer worn at the waist of participants over 3 consecutive days. A Polar H10 chest strap measured seated, resting RR intervals for the calculation of HRV with the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) reflecting vagally-mediated activity. The relationship between HRV and BMI was analysed using a linear mixed model adjusted for age, sex and physical activity. Analysis revealed that RMSSD (ln) demonstrated a significant inverse relationship with BMI (β = -0.06; 95% CI = -0.12 - -0.01; p = 0.032), and the model accounted for 23% of the variance in RMSSD (ln). Notably, a one unit increase in BMI resulted in a reduction in RMSDD (ln) of 0.06. This investigation demonstrated evidence for a significant inverse linear relationship between vagally-mediated HRV and BMI in 3 - 5-year-old Australian children, similar to that of adults. Furthermore, this relationship was independent of age, sex and physical activity levels. Results may indicate that the cardiometabolic health of preschool children is, in part, influenced by the relationship between vagally-mediated HRV and weight status.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
01:19Cardiac Output I:Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output (CO) refers to the total amount of blood ejected by one of the ventricles in liters per minute (L/min). In a resting adult, CO ranges from 5 to 6 L/min, adjusting according to the body's metabolic requirements.
Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output adapts to metabolic demands during stress, physical activity, or illness. The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate via the sinoatrial node. The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart...
01:12Coefficient of Correlation
If you suspect a linear relationship between x and y, then r can measure how strong the linear relationship is.
What the VALUE of r tells us:
The value of r is always between –1 and +1: –1 ≤ r ≤ 1.
The size of the correlation r indicates the...
01:31Regulation of Heart Rates
The SNS increases heart rate through the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, which act on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart. This action increases the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart's...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
01:25Correlation between ECG and Cardiac Cycle
A cardiac action potential originates in the SA node and spreads throughout the atria and the AV node in approximately 0.03 seconds. This results in the P wave in an ECG and triggers atrial contraction. The action potential is then briefly slowed at the AV node, allowing the atria to contract and fill the ventricles with blood before...