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Correlates of changes in BMI of children from the Azores islands

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 1487–1493 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To model changes in body mass index (BMI), including its stability, and to investigate the association between physical activity, 1-mile run/walk and levels of gross motor coordination and BMI during 5 consecutive years.

Design:

A longitudinal study of children 6 years of age at baseline followed at annual intervals over 5 years.

Subjects:

A total of 285 children (143 boys and 142 girls) were enrolled in grade 1 (age 6 years) and followed through grade 5 (age 10 years).

Measurements:

BMI was recorded and physical activity was assessed by questionnaire, aerobic fitness was evaluated with the 1-mile run/walk and gross motor coordination was measured with the KTK test battery (Körperkoordination test für Kinder). Multilevel modelling techniques were for the primary analysis.

Results:

Changes in BMI showed similar curvilinear trends in boys and girls, with ample inter-individual crossing trajectories that is, low tracking. Longitudinal changes in physical activity (PA) and aerobic fitness were not significantly associated with BMI-changes during the 5 years. Children who were more proficient in their motor coordination showed lower values of BMI during the 5 years.

Conclusions:

BMI trajectories of both boys and girls show low tracking of BMI-values. Considerable inter-individual variation exists both in baseline BMI-values and changes (velocity and acceleration) over time. PA and fitness were not associated with BMI-changes, but gross motor function was negatively associated with BMI-changes. No gender-specific associations were found. If confirmed in other populations these observations could be translated in the promotion of physical activities that improve gross motor function in children aged 6–10 years. This seems to be of major importance for the physical education curriculum of primary school children.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Desporto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    D Martins, J Maia, A Seabra & R Garganta

  2. Bragança Institute of Higher Education, Bragança, Portugal

    V Lopes

  3. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

    P Katzmarzyk

  4. Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    G Beunen

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  1. D Martins
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Correspondence to J Maia.

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Martins, D., Maia, J., Seabra, A. et al. Correlates of changes in BMI of children from the Azores islands. Int J Obes 34, 1487–1493 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.56

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