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Birth size and physical activity in a cohort of Indian children aged 6–10 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2012

S. H. Kehoe*
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
G. V. Krishnaveni
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Research Unit, CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India
S. R. Veena
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Research Unit, CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India
J. C. Hill
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
C. Osmond
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Kiran
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Research Unit, CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India
P. Coakley
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
S. C. Karat
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Research Unit, CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India
C. H. D. Fall
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: S. H. Kehoe, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. (Email sk@mrc.soton.ac.uk)

Abstract

There is evidence of a reduction in children's physical activity in India in the last decade. Our objective was to assess whether size and body composition at birth are associated with physical activity in school-aged children. Children from a prospective observational cohort study born in Mysore, South India between 1997 and 1998 (n = 663) had neonatal anthropometric measurements made within 72 h of delivery [weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), chest, abdomen and head circumference, crown–heel, crown–buttock and leg length, triceps and subscapular skinfolds]. At 6–10 years, children (n = 449) were asked to wear AM7164 or GT1M Actigraph accelerometers for 7 days. Body composition was measured within 6 months of activity monitoring. Arm muscle area at birth and time of activity monitoring was calculated from MUAC and skinfold measurements.

Activity outcome measures were: mean accelerometer counts per minute (cpm); counts per day and proportion of time spent in moderate and vigorous activity. The mean (s.d.) number of days with ⩾500 min of recorded accelerometer data was 7.0 (1.1). Linear regression models showed no significant associations between any of the neonatal anthropometric measures and the activity variables. Body fat percentage at 7.5 years was negatively associated with all activity variables (B = −4.69, CI: −7.31, −2.07 for mean cpm).

In conclusion, this study showed no associations between body size and skinfold thickness at birth and objectively measured physical activity in childhood.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2012

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