Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Measuring the Motor Aspect of Cancer-Related Fatigue using a Handheld Dynamometer
Published on: February 20, 2020
Weight-Specific Grip Strength as a Novel Indicator Associated With Cardiometabolic Risk in Children: The EMSNGS Study
Zhuoguang Li1, Chushan Wu1, Yongfang Song1
1Department of Endocrinology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518038, China.
Insights
Establishing grip strength reference values for Chinese youth reveals low muscle strength is linked to higher cardiometabolic risk. Weight-specific grip strength shows a dose-dependent relationship with increased health risks, especially in boys.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Handgrip strength (HGS) is a key indicator of sarcopenia and overall health, but its assessment in children is challenging.
- The relationship between children's HGS and metabolic health requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative grip strength reference values for Chinese children and adolescents.
- To investigate the association between handgrip strength and cardiometabolic risk in this population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 4,072 children aged 6-18 from the EMSNGS study in Shenzhen.
- Derived age- and weight-specific HGS and relative HGS (RHGS) using generalized additive models, categorizing participants into quartiles.
- Calculated cardiometabolic risk index (CMRI) z-scores to assess metabolic risk.
Main Results:
- Both age- and weight-specific grip strength increased similarly in boys and girls.
- Low grip strength, particularly when defined by weight-specific measures, was associated with higher CMRI z-scores in both sexes.
- A dose-dependent relationship between weight-specific grip strength and cardiometabolic risk was observed, notably in boys.
Conclusions:
- Established grip strength reference values for Chinese youth, introducing weight-specific metrics.
- Demonstrated a significant association between reduced muscle strength and elevated cardiometabolic risk.
- Highlighted the clinical importance of assessing grip strength for pediatric metabolic health surveillance.
Context:
Handgrip strength (HGS) is an important indicator of sarcopenia and adverse health outcomes. However, evaluating HGS in children presents challenges, and its association with metabolism remains incompletely understood.
Objective:
To establish grip strength reference values for Chinese children and adolescents, as well as to evaluate the relationship between HGS and cardiometabolic risk.
Methods:
Data were collected from 4 072 participants aged 6-18 as part of the Evaluation and Monitoring on School-based Nutrition and Growth in Shenzhen (EMSNGS) study. HGS was measured, and relative HGS (RHGS) was normalized by body mass index. Age- or weight-specific HGS and RHGS were derived using the generalized additive model of location, scale, and shape model, and participants' values were categorized into quartiles, defining low strength as the lowest quartile. The cardiometabolic risk index (CMRI) z-score was calculated, with high risk defined as a z-score of ≥1.
Results:
Both boys and girls exhibited similar increases in age- and weight-specific grip strength. Low grip strength, classified by weight-specific HGS and RHGS, was linked to higher CMRI z-scores than classifications based on age-specific references in both sexes. A dose-dependent relationship was observed between weight-specific grip strength and cardiometabolic risk, particularly in boys. Compared with the middle category (P25th-P75th), the odds ratios for high cardiometabolic risks associated with low grip strength increased in both sexes.
Conclusion:
This study established grip strength reference values for Chinese youth, introduced the concept of weight-specific HGS and RHGS, and demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship between weight-specific grip strength and cardiometabolic risk. These findings highlighted the association between low muscle strength and increased cardiometabolic risk.
