Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #155127
Title: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF FITNESS AND ACTIVITY IN GIRLS PREDISPOSED TO OBESITY

Author
item TREUTH, MARGARITA - JOHNS HOPKINS, BALTIMORE
item Butte, Nancy
item ADOLPH, ANNE - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item PUYAU, MAURICE - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED

Submitted to: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2003
Publication Date: 2/1/2004
Citation: Treuth MS, Butte NF, Adolph AL, Puyau MR. 2004. A longitudinal study of fitness and activity in girls predisposed to obesity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 36(2):198-204.

Interpretive Summary: In this study, we examined how physical activity and fitness changes in girls from 8 to 10 years of age. These girls had either lean parents, a lean and an obese parent, or two obese parents. A longitudinal study was undertaken with annual assessments at 8, 9, and 10 years of age. Fitness was measured by treadmill testing, and physical activity measured by heart rate monitoring and by questionnaire. Sedentary behavior was assessed by questionnaire. Fitness did not change over time, but fitness did differ by groups. Girls with either 1 or 2 obese parents had significantly lower fitness than girls with 2 lean parents. 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 years of age, but girls of obese parents tend to be less fit.

Technical Abstract: To determine whether physical activity and fitness change in girls with and without a predisposition to obesity from 8 to 10 years of age. Normal-weight girls (n=91) were recruited at 8 years of age according to parental body mass index (BMI): LN = girls with 2 lean (BMI<25kg.m-2) parents, LNOB = girls with one obese and one lean parent, and OB = girls with 2 obese (BMI>28kg.m-2) parents. A longitudinal study was undertaken with annual assessments at 8, 9, and 10 years 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 years of age, but girls of obese parents tend to be less fit.