Are Fat Mass and Lean Mass Associated with Grip Strength in Adolescents?

Background: The interaction between lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass index (FMI) with grip strength (GS) has not been explored in the same analysis model in adolescents. This study thus aims to analyze the association between FMI and LBM with GS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with data from the 2016 follow-up of the 1997/98 Birth Cohort of São Luís. Grip strength was assessed by the Jamar Plus + dynamometer. The LBM and FMI indexes were assessed [ratio of the mass (lean or fat-kg) to height (m²)]. The confounding variables identified for the relationship between FMI and LBM with GS in the same analysis model, by directed acyclic graph (DAG), were sex, age, race, work, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and consumption of ultra-processed foods and culinary preparations, used in the adjusted analysis. Results: A total of 2339 adolescents (52.5% girls) were analyzed. The boys have a higher GS than the girls. In the adjusted analysis, with each increase of 1 kg/m² in the FMI, GS was reduced by 0.72 kgf for boys and 0.35 kgf for girls. At each increase of 1 kg/m² in the LBM, GS increased by 2.18 kgf for boys and 1.26 kgf for girls. Conclusions: FMI was associated with lower GS regardless of the LBM. LBM was associated with higher GS regardless of the FMI.