Underweight children are agile but lack power
Abstract Given the knowledge gap in literature on the impact of undernutrition on muscular power and agility in school-aged children, the aim of this study was to compare physical fitness in such underweight- and normal weight children. In this cross-sectional study, 853 children were included (459...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03544-3 |
| _version_ | 1811340463509078016 |
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| author | Evi Verbecque Dané Coetzee Bouwien Smits-Engelsman |
| author_facet | Evi Verbecque Dané Coetzee Bouwien Smits-Engelsman |
| author_sort | Evi Verbecque |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Given the knowledge gap in literature on the impact of undernutrition on muscular power and agility in school-aged children, the aim of this study was to compare physical fitness in such underweight- and normal weight children. In this cross-sectional study, 853 children were included (459 boys; mean age: 9.2 (1.8) years). The children were grouped according to their BMI-for-age-and-sex: normal weight (− 1 ≤ z-score < 2) and underweight (z-score < − 1). Within the underweight group, three thinness subgroups were composed: grade 1 (− 2 ≤ z-score < − 1), grade 2 (− 3 ≤ z-score < − 2) and grade 3 (z-score < − 3). Their agility, muscular endurance and power were assessed with the Performance and Fitness test battery (PERF-FIT). Regardless the country they lived in, the underweight children showed better agility (p = 0.012) and muscular endurance (p = 0.004) than those with normal weight. They presented with lower muscular power than the normal weight group, shown by significantly shorter overhead throwing distances (p = 0.017) and less standing long jump peak power (p < 0.001). The standing long jump peak power decreased further with increasing thinness grade (p = 0.027). Conclusion: Underweight children are more agile, but have lower muscular power compared to their normal weight peers. Its relationship with motor competence and physical activity, necessitates attention for tackling muscular strength deficiencies in these children, enabling them to meet the basic requirements for a healthy lifestyle later in life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:42:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-344cbac712e14182945ba6ecf93014b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:42:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-344cbac712e14182945ba6ecf93014b52022-12-22T02:34:40ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312022-08-012211910.1186/s12887-022-03544-3Underweight children are agile but lack powerEvi Verbecque0Dané Coetzee1Bouwien Smits-Engelsman2Rehabilitation Research Centre (REVAL), Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Hasselt UniversityPhysical Activity, Sport and Recreation, Faculty Health Sciences, North-West UniversityPhysical Activity, Sport and Recreation, Faculty Health Sciences, North-West UniversityAbstract Given the knowledge gap in literature on the impact of undernutrition on muscular power and agility in school-aged children, the aim of this study was to compare physical fitness in such underweight- and normal weight children. In this cross-sectional study, 853 children were included (459 boys; mean age: 9.2 (1.8) years). The children were grouped according to their BMI-for-age-and-sex: normal weight (− 1 ≤ z-score < 2) and underweight (z-score < − 1). Within the underweight group, three thinness subgroups were composed: grade 1 (− 2 ≤ z-score < − 1), grade 2 (− 3 ≤ z-score < − 2) and grade 3 (z-score < − 3). Their agility, muscular endurance and power were assessed with the Performance and Fitness test battery (PERF-FIT). Regardless the country they lived in, the underweight children showed better agility (p = 0.012) and muscular endurance (p = 0.004) than those with normal weight. They presented with lower muscular power than the normal weight group, shown by significantly shorter overhead throwing distances (p = 0.017) and less standing long jump peak power (p < 0.001). The standing long jump peak power decreased further with increasing thinness grade (p = 0.027). Conclusion: Underweight children are more agile, but have lower muscular power compared to their normal weight peers. Its relationship with motor competence and physical activity, necessitates attention for tackling muscular strength deficiencies in these children, enabling them to meet the basic requirements for a healthy lifestyle later in life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03544-3UnderweightThinnessMuscle strengthAgilityMuscular fitness |
| spellingShingle | Evi Verbecque Dané Coetzee Bouwien Smits-Engelsman Underweight children are agile but lack power BMC Pediatrics Underweight Thinness Muscle strength Agility Muscular fitness |
| title | Underweight children are agile but lack power |
| title_full | Underweight children are agile but lack power |
| title_fullStr | Underweight children are agile but lack power |
| title_full_unstemmed | Underweight children are agile but lack power |
| title_short | Underweight children are agile but lack power |
| title_sort | underweight children are agile but lack power |
| topic | Underweight Thinness Muscle strength Agility Muscular fitness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03544-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eviverbecque underweightchildrenareagilebutlackpower AT danecoetzee underweightchildrenareagilebutlackpower AT bouwiensmitsengelsman underweightchildrenareagilebutlackpower |