ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Birth weight is considered an important marker of inadequate maternal nutrition, and it is a critical indicator of the newborn's health and development. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the influence of low birth weight (LBW) on body composition in 7-10-year-old school children from Boane City-Mozambique. METHODS: A total of 220 children (female = 122 and male = 98) were divided into two groups according to their birth weight (LBW, n = 41; and normal birth weight, NBW, n = 179). Anthropometric indicators of nutritional status were analyzed by the indices weight-for-age, height-for-age, BMI-for-age, and weight-for-height. RESULTS: LBW children showed reduced skinfolds, and weight-for-height when compared to NBW children. Birth weight was positively associated with all anthropometric variables, except for BMI, which was not associated with any other variable. The r2 value ranged from .09 (weight-for-age) to .72 (height-for-age). For body composition variables, older children had higher fat mass (ß = .26; 95% CI = 0.05-0.48) and fat-free mass (ß = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.71-1.48), and boys had lower fat percentage (ß = -3.49; 95% CI = -4.35 to -2.65) and fat mass (ß = -.92; 95% CI = -1.31 to -0.55) than girls. Birth weight was also positively associated with fat-free mass. CONCLUSION: LBW seems to influence some growth indicators of children living in Boane, however, current environmental factors seem to weaken this association. Our results suggest that public policies involving healthy nutrition and physical activity can reverse the effects of low weight in children from Boane.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Overweight/obesity during adolescence in lower-middle income countries has become a public health problem with consequences in adulthood. Inadequate dietary habits, poor diet quality, sedentary behavior, and parental obesity have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To describe management of obesity-like food habits and behavior of adolescents from lower-middle income countries with respect to what keeps them using this diet (barriers) and what helps them avoid it (enablers). METHODS: Systematic review of the literature related to obesity and food intake of adolescents conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). RESULTS: We classified 11 eligible studies describing the barriers to and enablers of the management of obesity-like food intake and obesity lifestyle. The dual burdens of malnutrition and increased urbanization have been observed. There is preference for processed food, dietary habits, and obesity-like food intake and sedentary behavior. Barriers to managing body weight gain included mostly consumption of fast-food and snack food, less vegetable and fruit intake, skipping meals, and sedentary behavior. Enablers of managing body weight gain included changes in nutritional habits, perception of the consumption of healthy food, physical activity, and engagement in programs to change lifestyle. CONCLUSION: The globalization of the fast food industry has provided an obesogenic environmental stimulus for adolescents in lower-middle income countries.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Diet/psychology , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Pediatric Obesity/psychology , Adolescent , Developing Countries , Exercise/psychology , Fast Foods , Female , Humans , Male , Parents/psychology , Sedentary BehaviorABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between low birth weight (LBW) and anthropometry, body composition, physical fitness, and gross motor coordination among schoolchildren from Maputo, Mozambique. METHODS: A total of 353 children aged 7 to 10 years old from both genders born in Maputo (Mozambique) were sampled. The sample was divided into two groups: LBW (n = 155) and normal birth weight (NBW, n = 198). Body composition measurements and indices weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height were assessed. Physical fitness was assessed by handgrip strength, flexibility, agility, long jump, and running speed. Gross motor coordination was evaluated by using the Korper Koordination Test fur Kinder (KTK) battery. RESULTS: LBW children were lighter and smaller than NBW children with reduced indices for weight-for-age and height-for-age. They also showed a reduced performance in handgrip strength and sideways movement tests. These differences remained significant even after adjustment for age, gender, body size, and fatness skinfold thickness. CONCLUSION: LBW seems to be the major factor that influences anthropometry, and is a predictor of low muscle strength and low performance on sideways movement tests. This result suggests that growth faltering in LBW children is associated with adverse health consequences, even after controlling for gender, age, fatness, and body size.
Subject(s)
Anthropometry , Body Composition , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Motor Skills , Nutritional Status , Physical Fitness , Child , Female , Humans , Male , MozambiqueABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Introduction: Birth weight has been considered an important marker of the nutritional transition in developing countries. Objective: To evaluate the influence of birth weight on body composition and physical fitness of young men born in Maputo, Mozambique. Methods: One hundred and seventy-nine students (aged 19 to 22 years) were divided into four groups (low birth weight < 2.500 g, LBW, n = 49; insufficient birth weight ≥ 2.500 g and < 3.000 g, IBW, n = 27; normal birth weight ≥ 3.000 g and < 3.999 g, NBW, n = 74; and high birth weight > 3.999 g, HBW, n = 31). Anthropometry and body composition were measured. Physical fitness was assessed by handgrip strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, agility, and running speed. Results: IBW showed lower values of body mass and fat free mass while LBW and HBW had high values of hip circumference, suprailiac, subscapular and abdominal skinfold when compared to NBW. LBW and HBW showed a high percentage of individuals with low performance in flexibility, right handgrip, agility, abdominal resistance, arms strength, and horizontal long jump. Around 70% of HBW showed low performance in the running speed test. Conclusion: Both low and high birth weight can influence adult adiposity and the performance in physical fitness tests.
RESUMO Introdução: O peso ao nascer tem sido considerado um marcador importante da transição nutricional nos países em desenvolvimento. Objetivo: Avaliar a influência do peso ao nascimento na composição corporal e aptidão física de homens jovens nascidos em Maputo, Moçambique. Métodos: Cento e setenta e nove estudantes (com idades entre 19 a 22 anos) foram divididos em quatro grupos (baixo peso ao nascer < 2.500 g, BPN, n = 49; peso insuficiente ao nascer ≥ 2.500 g e < 3.000 g, PIN, n = 27; peso normal ao nascer ≥ 3.000 g e < 3.999 g, PNN, n = 74; e peso elevado ao nascer > 3.999 g, PEN, n = 31). Foram avaliadas a antropometria e a composição corporal. A aptidão física foi avaliada por testes de força de preensão manual, resistência muscular, flexibilidade, agilidade e velocidade de corrida. Resultados: PIN mostrou menores valores de massa corporal e massa livre de gordura, enquanto BPN e PEN apresentaram altos valores de circunferência do quadril, supra-ilíaca, subescapular e dobra cutânea abdominal quando comparados com PNN. BPN e PEN mostraram um alto percentual de indivíduos com baixo desempenho em termos de flexibilidade, preensão palmar direita, agilidade, resistência abdominal, força de braço, e salto em distância horizontal. Cerca de 70% dos PEN apresentaram baixo desempenho no teste de velocidade de corrida. Conclusão: Ambos baixo e alto peso ao nascer podem influenciar a adiposidade no adulto e o desempenho em testes de aptidão física.
RESUMEN Introducción: El peso al nacer ha sido considerado un importante marcador de la transición nutricional en los países en desarrollo. Objetivo: Evaluar la influencia del peso al nacer en la composición corporal y la aptitud física de los jóvenes nacidos en Maputo, Mozambique. Métodos: Ciento setenta y nueve estudiantes (de 19 a 22 años) se dividieron en cuatro grupos (bajo peso al nacer < 2.500 g, BPN, n = 49; peso insuficiente al nacer ≥ 2.500 g y < 3.000 g, PIN, n = 27; peso normal al nacer ≥ 3.000 g y < 3.999 g, PNN, n = 74; y peso elevado al nacer > 3.999 g, PEN, n = 31). Se evaluó la antropometría y composición corporal. La aptitud física se evaluó mediante la fuerza de prensión, resistencia muscular, flexibilidad, agilidad y velocidad de carrera. Resultados: PIN mostró valores más bajos de masa corporal y masa libre de grasa, mientras que el BPN y PEN tenían valores altos de circunferencia de la cadera, suprailiaco, subescapular y pliegue abdominal en comparación con PNN. BPN y HBW mostraron un alto porcentaje de personas con bajo rendimiento en flexibilidad, fuerza de prensión de la mano derecha, agilidad, resistencia abdominal, fuerza de los brazos, y salto de longitud horizontal. Alrededor del 70% de HBW mostró bajo rendimiento en la prueba de velocidad de carrera. Conclusión: Tanto bajo y alto peso al nacer pueden influir en la obesidad de adultos y el desempeño en las pruebas de aptitud física.
