Bi-directional associations between physical activity and growth indicators of pre-school aged children

ABSTRACT

Physical activity for young children provides a wealth of benefits for health and development. However, little is known about the inter-relationship of physical activity and growth indicators. The aim of this study was to test the bi-directional associations of physical activity and growth indicators in children under five years of age. This prospective study included 1,575 children with data on physical activity and growth indicators at ages 12, 24 and 48 months. Accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. Z-scores for length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, weight-for-age and body mass index (BMI)-for-age were calculated. Bi-directional associations between physical activity and growth indicators were evaluated using cross-lagged panels based on Generalized Estimating Equations and cross-lagged structural equation models. Physical activity was consistently associated with lower weight-related growth indicators: BMI-for-age: β=-0.12; Weight-for-age: β=-0.11; Weight-for-length/height: β=-0.12. Higher BMI-for-age indicated lower physical activity (β=-0.06). When the exposure was lagged, the association of physical activity on weight-related growth indicators remained, but weight-related growth indicators showed a negative association on physical activity. A bi-directional association between physical activity and weight-related growth indicators was observed. The magnitude of associations were stronger when physical activity was modelled as exposure. These results reinforce the importance of physical activity since early years.

KEYWORDS:

• Growth indicators
• physical activity
• preschool children

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2023.2240167

Additional information

Funding

This article is based on data from the study ”Pelotas Birth Cohort, 2015” conducted by Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology at Universidade Federal de Pelotas, with the collaboration of the Brazilian Public Health Association (ABRASCO). The first phases of the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort was funded by the Wellcome Trust (095582). Funding for specific follow-up visits was also received from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS) and Children’s Pastorate sponsored follow-up at twenty-four months; and FAPERGS – PPSUS, the Wellcome Trust, and FAPERGS – PPSUS and the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BRA-2018-178) for the 4-year follow-up. At the 4 years follow-up the 2015 cohort also was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DECIT/Brazilian Ministry of Health).