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Anthropometric and motor characteristics of Senegalese children with different nutritional histories
E Bénéfice1, T Fouéré, R M Malina
1Laboratoire de Nutrition Tropicale, Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération, Montpellier, France.
Insights
Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) negatively impacts children's motor skills. Even after rehabilitation, children with a history of severe or chronic undernutrition show poorer performance compared to well-nourished peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Human Motor Development
Background:
- Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is a significant public health concern affecting child development.
- Undernutrition during critical growth periods can have lasting effects on physical and cognitive functions.
- Understanding the long-term impact of PEM on motor performance is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) on the motor performance of Senegalese children aged 4.5-6.5 years.
- To compare motor performance across different nutritional status groups: severe undernutrition (rehabilitated), chronic mild-to-moderate undernutrition, and well-nourished.
- To identify anthropometric factors associated with motor performance in undernourished children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 147 Senegalese children (4.5-6.5 years).
- Nutritional groups included: severe undernutrition (rehabilitated), chronic undernutrition, and well-nourished.
- Anthropometric measurements (body dimensions, skinfolds) and motor performance tests (endurance run, shuttle-run, throw, jump, grip strength) were conducted.
- Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was used to analyze anthropometric and motor performance data.
Main Results:
- Well-nourished children demonstrated significantly better motor performance than both severe and chronic undernutrition groups, after adjusting for sex and age.
- PCA identified two main factors explaining 65% of variance: body size and body composition.
- Significant differences were observed in PCA scores across nutritional groups, particularly concerning body composition (low fat mass) and its association with motor performance in chronically undernourished children.
Conclusions:
- Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) has a detrimental and lasting effect on children's motor performance.
- Body composition, specifically reduced fat mass, is a key factor influencing motor performance in chronically undernourished children.
- Nutritional rehabilitation is essential, but long-term monitoring and interventions may be needed to fully address developmental deficits.
Abstract:
The effects of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) on the motor performance of 4.5-6.5-year-old Senegalese children were studied. Body dimensions included weight, lengths, circumferences, and four skinfolds. Motor performance tests included a 3-min endurance run, 4 x 10 m shuttle-run, distance throw, standing long jump and grip strength. The sample consisted of 147 children: 52 children who were hospitalized for severe undernutrition (severe UN group) during infancy but who had been nutritionally rehabilitated; 63 children who were never severely malnourished but who were chronically exposed to mild-to-moderate undernutrition up to the time of study (chronic UN group); and 32 well nourished children (well nourished group) from well-off households. After adjusting for sex and age, the well nourished group performed better than the severe UN and chronic UN groups. Principal components analysis resulted in two factors which explained 65% of the variance in anthropometry and motor performance. One was related to body size and the second to body composition. The three nutritional groups differed significantly in principal component scores for the two factors; chronic UN and severe UN children also differed for the second factor. Body composition, especially low fat mass appeared to be an important feature for motor performance in chronically undernourished children.