Physical activity and body composition in 10 year old French children: linkages with nutritional intake?

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationships between physical activity, dietary intake and body composition in children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study on physical activity, nutritional intakes and body composition conducted in 86 healthy 10 y old French children. In addition, growth parameters and nutritional intakes were available from the age of 10 months. MEASUREMENTS: Physical activity level (using a validated activity questionnaire over the past year), nutritional intake (dietary history method), anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, Body Mass Index (BMI), arm muscle and arm fat areas calculated from these measurements) at the age of 10 y. Anthropometric measurements and nutritional intakes were recorded in the same children at the age of 10 months and every 2 y from the age of 2 y. RESULTS: At the age of 10 y, active children ingested signi®cantly more energy than less active children, mostly due to higher energy intake at breakfast and in the afternoon. This higher energy intake was accounted for by increased consumption of carbohydrates (281 g vs 246 g; 49.6% vs 47.4% of total energy). Even if the amounts of fat consumed were similar in both groups (90 g vs 84 g; P 0.09), the percentage of fat intake was lower in active children (35.4% vs 37.4%; P 0.04). The percentage of protein was not different (14.9% vs 15.3%; P 0.33). In spite of a higher energy intake in the active group, active and less active children had similar BMI at the age of 10 y. However, their body composition differed signi®cantly: active children had a higher proportion of fat-free mass, a lower proportion of fatmass as measured in the arm and they had a later adiposity rebound. Fatness was signi®cantly and positively associated with the time spent watching television and video games. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity was associated with improved body composition and growth pattern. This association may be related to nutritional changes: active children consumed more energy by increasing carbohydrate, thus reducing the relative fat content of their diet. These results provide support to encourage physical activity during childhood.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior: a review of longitudinal studies of weight and adiposity in youth

“…80 In a study of Swiss children, each additional hour of video games played daily was associated with a doubling of obesity risk. 38 Similar significant relationships between sedentary behavior (usually TV) and increased adiposity have been seen cross-sectionally, 41,59,[80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88] with some suggestion that the relationship is getting stronger over time. 81 In a study of Australian children, however, after adjusting for covariates, there was no relationship between obesity and time spent with TV, video games, or computers.…”

Early adiposity rebound: causes and consequences for obesity in children and adults

“…This increase appeared after an early AR. 45 Nutritional studies have investigated the influence of early nutrition on either later fatness development or on the age at AR. The association between nutritional intakes at the age of 2 years and fatness development was investigated in our longitudinal study of nutrition and growth.…”

Child overweight in France and its relationship with physical activity, sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic status

“…In this context, the physical activity questionnaire was derived from the French translation (Deheeger et al, 1997) of the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire designed for adolescents by Kriska et al (1990) and adapted for children (Fontvieille, 1993). It asked for the usual amount of time spent taking part in several sports outside school in an ordinary week.…”