A Longitudinal Study of Fitness and Activity in Girls Predisposed to Obesity
- 1 February 2004
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Vol. 36 (2), 198-204
- https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000113666.98463.b0
Abstract
To determine whether physical activity and fitness change in girls with and without a predisposition to obesity from 8 to 10 yr of age. Normal-weight girls (N = 91) were recruited at 8 yr of age according to parental body mass index (BMI): LN = girls with two lean (BMI < 25 kg.m-2) parents, LNOB = girls with one obese and one lean parent, and OB = girls with two obese (BMI > 28 kg.m-2) parents. A longitudinal study was undertaken with annual assessments at 8, 9, and 10 yr of age. The primary outcomes were fitness ([OV0312]O2peak) measured by treadmill testing, and physical activity measured by heart rate monitoring and by questionnaire. Sedentary behavior was assessed by questionnaire. [OV0312]O2peak (mL.kg-1.min-1) did not change over time; however, [OV0312]O2peak (L.min-1 and mL.kg-1.min-1), time on the treadmill, and treadmill stage were different across groups (P < 0.02). Girls with LNOB parents had a lower absolute [OV0312]O2 than the LN girls by 2.5 mL.kg-1.min-1 (P < 0.05). The OB group had a 3.9 mL.kg-1.min-1 lower [OV0312]O2 than the LN group (P < 0.001). The girls of LN parents also exercised longer on the treadmill (P < 0.05) than girls with OB parents. The percent of the day spent active on the weekday and weekend did not change over time or between groups. Time spent watching TV during the school year and summer was similar over the study period and between groups. Our data suggest that fitness and physical activity remain fairly constant in girls from 8 to 10 yr of age, but girls of obese parents tend to be less fit.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- One-Year Changes in Activity and in Inactivity Among 10- to 15-Year-Old Boys and Girls: Relationship to Change in Body Mass IndexPediatrics, 2003
- ENERGY EXPENDITURE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND OBESITY IN CHILDRENPediatric Clinics of North America, 2001
- A controlled trial of health promotion programs in 11-year-olds using physical activity “enrichment” for higher risk childrenThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1998
- Relationship of Physical Activity and Television Watching With Body Weight and Level of Fatness Among ChildrenJAMA, 1998
- Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Attenuate Obesity and Promote Physical and Metabolic Fitness in Elementary School ChildrenObesity Research, 1996
- Relation of percentage of body fat and maximal aerobic capacity to risk factors for atherosclerosis and diabetes in black and white seven- to eleven-year-old childrenThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1994
- Physical Activity Patterns in American High School StudentsArchives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1994
- Aerobic Capacity and Grade-Walking Economy of Children 5–9 Years Old: A Longitudinal StudyPediatric Exercise Science, 1994
- A new approach to assessing maximal aerobic power in children: the Odense School Child StudyEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology, 1989
- A method to assess energy expenditure in children and adultsThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1983