High levels of habitual physical activity in west african adolescent girls and relationship to maturation, growth, and nutritional status: Results from a 3‐year prospective study

Abstract

This study examines energy expenditure and physical activity levels for a sample of 40 adolescent girls of the Sereer ethnic group of rural Senegal. The girls were 13.3 +/- 0.5 years at the start of the study (June 1997) and were followed annually for the next 2 years during puberty. Data collected during each round included: 1) pubertal status (as assessed by breast development and occurrence of menarche); 2) selected anthropometric dimensions (weight, stature, arm circumference, and six skinfolds); and 3) physical activity levels quantitatively assessed using CSA accelerometers. During rounds 1 and 3, activity was also qualitatively reported by direct minute-by-minute observations. A food consumption survey was performed once during the 3(rd) round, using an individual food weighing method. Girls of this sample had high levels of energy expenditure with daily physical activity levels (PALs) ranging from 1.70 to 1.85 multiples of basal metabolic rate. Energy intakes were, on average, sufficient to meet energy and protein requirements, although micronutrient deficiencies were likely to exist. Activity levels declined with age between the 1(st) and 3(rd) rounds. Stepwise regression analyses showed that stature was negatively correlated with both total daily and day-time activity, whereas the body mass index was positively associated with this measure. Pubertal status and subcutaneous fatness were not significant predictors of activity levels. The contribution of these adolescent girls to the everyday tasks of the household was considerable. They spent more than 3 hours 30 minutes per day in domestic duties.

Prevalence and severity of malnutrition and age at menarche; cross-sectional studies in adolescent schoolgirls in western Kenya

“…No seasonal differences between the two Asembo surveys were seen, which suggests that the seasonality of potential key determinants of nutritional status such as differences in food availability, energy expenditure and infectious diseases, may have been smaller at the time of study than reported from other studies in developing countries (Ferro-Luzzi et al, 1994;Benefice et al, 2001;Tetens et al, 2003). Similar to our study, a recent study of nutritional status in preschool children in a different part of Kenya also found no seasonal weight change (Kigutha et al, 1995).…”

Impact of the health and living conditions of migrant and non-migrant Senegalese adolescent girls on their nutritional status and growth

“…The rural population relies mainly on staple foods such as millet and sorghum served with a small portion of dry fish and sauces. Energy sources come essentially from plants and cereals 46 . In contrast, the urban population relies on imported cereals (rice), oilbased sauces, fresh fish and meat 29 .…”

Fat and muscle mass in different groups of pre-pubertal and pubertal rural children. Cross-cultural comparisons between Sahelian (rural Senegal) and Amazonian (Beni River, Bolivia) children

“…In the Senegalese sample, we found acceptable average energy intakes; however, the range of variation was high: 40% of adolescents actually did not meet their nutritional requirements. The intake of food of animal origin was very low (Benefice et al 2001a). In Lowland Bolivia, most of the energy need was covered by bulky foods like cassava and plantain banana.…”