Suspected Motor Problems and Low Preference for Active Play in Childhood Are Associated with Physical Inactivity and Low Fitness in Adolescence

Background - This prospective longitudinal study investigates whether suspected motor problems and low preference for active play in childhood are associated with physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence. Methodology/Principal Findings - The study sample consisted of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC 1986) composed of 5,767 children whose parents responded to a postal inquiry concerning their children's motor skills at age 8 years and who themselves reported their physical activity at age 16 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with a cycle ergometer test at age 16 years. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the level of physical activity and fitness were obtained from multinomial logistic regression and adjusted for socio-economic position and body mass index. Low preference for active play in childhood was associated with physical inactivity (boys: OR 3.31, 95% CI 2.42–4.53; girls: OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.36–2.36) and low cardiorespiratory fitness (boys: OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.27–2.74; girls: OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.09–2.11) in adolescence. Suspected gross (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.33–3.49) and fine (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.35–2.60) motor problems were associated with physical inactivity among boys. Children with suspected motor problems and low preference for active play tended to have an even higher risk of physical inactivity in adolescence. Conclusions/Significance - Low preference for active play in childhood was associated with physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence. Furthermore, children with suspected motor problems and low preference for active play tended to have an even higher risk of physical inactivity in adolescence. Identification of children who do not prefer active play and who have motor problems may allow targeted interventions to support their motor learning and participation in active play and thereby promote their physical activity and fitness in later life.peerReviewe

Influence of farm environment on asthma during the life course:a population-based birth cohort study in Northern Finland

Abstract We investigated the influence of a farming environment on asthma at three time points from birth to 46 years using the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 10,926). The prevalence of asthma was investigated by postal questionnaires at 14, 31 and 46 years of age. Exposure to a farming environment was assessed by a postal questionnaire at birth and at 31 and 46 years of age. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the prevalence of asthma were obtained from multinomial logistic regression, stratified by sex. Being born in a farmer family was potentially causally associated with lower risk of asthma in males at 31 years of age (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.37, 0.85) and in females at 46 years of age (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.44, 0.95). Working as a farmer was not associated with asthma. Exposure to a farming environment in childhood may have a lifelong impact on developing asthma from birth through young adulthood and until middle age, indicating that ‘immune deviation’ may persist throughout life

Associations of leukocyte telomere length with aerobic and muscular fitness in young adults

Abstract Decline in both telomere length and physical fitness over the life course may contribute to increased risk of several chronic diseases. The relationship between telomere length and aerobic and muscular fitness is not well characterized. We examined whether there are cross-sectional associations of mean relative leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with objective measures of aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and muscle endurance, using data on 31-year-old participants of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 4,952–5,205, varying by exposure-outcome analysis). Aerobic fitness was assessed by means of heart rate measurement following a standardized submaximal step test; muscular fitness was assessed by means of a maximal isometric handgrip strength test and a test of lower-back trunk muscle endurance. Longer LTL was associated with higher aerobic fitness and better trunk muscle endurance in models including adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, socioeconomic position, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, and C-reactive protein. In a sex-stratified analysis, LTL was not associated with handgrip strength in either men or women. LTL may relate to aspects of physical fitness in young adulthood, but replication of these findings is required, along with further studies to help assess directions and causality in these associations

Multinomial regression of physical inactivity and low level of cardiorespiratory fitness at age 16 years on different combinations of suspected gross motor problems (GMP), fine motor problems (FMP) and low preference for active play (LPAP) at age 8 years.

a<p>Metabolic equivalent-hours based on the intensity and volume of physical activity divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) active (two highest quintiles), 2) moderately active (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) inactive (lowest quintile).</p>b<p>Peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) in ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) high (two highest quintiles), 2) average (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) low (lowest quintile).</p>c<p>Adjusted for mother's and father's socio-economic position when the children were 7 years old and for change in body mass index from 7 to 16 years. OR, odds ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval. Note: N/A  =  not available.</p

The level of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness at age 16 years by suspected motor problems and low preference for active play at age 8 years. (%).

a<p>Metabolic equivalent-hours based on the intensity and volume of physical activity divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) active (two highest quintiles), 2) moderately active (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) inactive (lowest quintile).</p>b<p>Peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) in ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) high (two highest quintiles), 2) average (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) low (lowest quintile).</p>c<p>Pearson's chi-square test.</p>d<p>Low preference for active play was defined as parents reporting that children liked to participate in active play ‘hardly ever’.</p

Sample characteristics of boys and girls in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986.

a<p>Low preference for active play was defined as parents reporting that children liked to participate in active play ‘hardly ever’.</p>b<p>Metabolic equivalent-hours based on the intensity and volume of physical activity divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) active (two highest quintiles), 2) moderately active (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) inactive (lowest quintile).</p>c<p>Peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) in ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) high (two highest quintiles), 2) average (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) low (lowest quintile).</p

The number of boys (N = 2723) and girls (N = 3044) belonging to each subgroup according to suspected gross and fine motor problems and low preference for active play at age 8 years.

<p>Areas are non-proportional.</p

Multinomial regression of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness at age 16 years on suspected motor problems and low preference for active play at age 8 years.

a<p>Metabolic equivalent-hours based on the intensity and volume of physical activity divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) active (two highest quintiles), 2) moderately active (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) inactive (lowest quintile).</p>b<p>Peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) in ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ divided into gender-specific quintiles: 1) high (two highest quintiles), 2) average (third and fourth quintiles) and 3) low (lowest quintile).</p>c<p>Adjusted for mother's and father's socio-economic positions when the children were 7 years old and for change in body mass index from 7 to 16 years. OR, odds ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.</p>d<p>Low preference for active play was defined as parents reporting that children liked to participate in active play ‘hardly ever’.</p

Associations of leukocyte telomere length with aerobic and muscular fitness in young adults

Decline in both telomere length and physical fitness over the life course may contribute to increased risk of several chronic diseases. The relationship between telomere length and aerobic and muscular fitness is not well characterized. We examined whether there are cross-sectional associations of mean relative leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with objective measures of aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and muscle endurance, using data on 31-year-old participants of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 4,952-5,205, varying by exposure-outcome analysis). Aerobic fitness was assessed by means of heart rate measurement following a standardized submaximal step test; muscular fitness was assessed by means of a maximal isometric handgrip strength test and a test of lower-back trunk muscle endurance. Longer LTL was associated with higher aerobic fitness and better trunk muscle endurance in models including adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, socioeconomic position, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, and C-reactive protein. In a sex-stratified analysis, LTL was not associated with handgrip strength in either men or women. LTL may relate to aspects of physical fitness in young adulthood, but replication of these findings is required, along with further studies to help assess directions and causality in these associations.This work was supported financially by the following institutions: the Academy of Finland (grants 104781, 120315, 129269, 1114194, and 12926); University Hospital Oulu, Biocenter, University of Oulu (grant 75617); the European Commission (grant QLG1-CT-2000-01643); the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, US National Institutes of Health (grant 5R01HL087679-02); the National Institute of Mental Health, US National Institutes of Health (grant 5R01MH63706:02); the Medical Research Council, United Kingdom (grants G0500539 and G0600705); the Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom (grant GR069224); and Diabetes UK (grant 08/0003775). J.L.B. was supported by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship (grant WT088431MA). D.M.W. and M.R.J. were supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement DynaHEALTH (grant 633595)