Low Birth Weight and Related Metabolic Risk Factors, Cardio-Respiratory Fitness and Physical Activity in Adolescents

The associations between low birth weight (LBW) and the aggregation of metabolic risk factors (MRF) in youth remain ambiguous. Thus, this study analysed the interrelationship among MRF, LBW, and behavioural factors in adolescents.

The sample of the present cross-sectional study comprised 491 youth (229 males, 262 females) aged 14-17 years. Height, weight, and BMI were assessed. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was measured using the PACER test. Physical activity (PA) was evaluated using a 3-day diary. A MRF risk score was calculated using the Z-scores of the five MRF criteria (HDL-C, triglycerides, BP, insulin, and blood glucose).

The average values for height, weight, and systolic and diastolic BP were significantly higher in males (p < 0.01); in contrast, females exhibited higher HDL cholesterol and insulin levels (p < 0.01). Boys revealed higher levels of PA (p < 0.01), and they achieved better CRF scores than girls (p < 0.01). BMI emerged as a significant predictor of clustered metabolic risk for both males (β = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.16-0.36) and females (β = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.14-0.30); additionally, the results indicated that more physically active girls had a notably lower metabolic risk (β = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.10--0.01) than their male peers.

LBW was found to be independently correlated with the aggregated MRF (β = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.01-0.00) among boys aged 14-17 years.