Abstract
PurposeThis study aimed to examine the associations of birth weight with ability in school sports in adolescence and participation in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) across adulthood and to investigate whether associations between birth weight and LTPA change with age.MethodsStudy participants were British singletons born in 1946 and followed up to age 68 yr (the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development). Birth weights were extracted from birth records. Teacher reports of ability in school sports were collected at age 13 yr. LTPA was self-reported at ages 36, 43, 53, 60–64, and 68 yr and categorized at each age as participating in sports, exercise, and other vigorous LTPA at least once per month versus no participation. Associations were examined using standard and mixed-effects logistic regression models.ResultsRelevant data were available for 2739 study participants (50.1% female). When compared with the low birth weight group (≤2.50 kg), those with heavier birth weights were more likely to be rated as above average or average at school sports (vs below average); fully adjusted odds ratio = 1.78 (95% confidence interval = 1.14–2.77). Across adulthood, those with heavier birth weights were more likely to participate in LTPA than those with low birth weight; fully adjusted odds ratio of LTPA across adulthood = 1.52 (95% confidence interval = 1.09–2.14). This association did not vary by age (P = 0.5 for birth weight by age interaction).ConclusionsLow birth weight was associated with lower ability in school sports and with nonparticipation in LTPA across adulthood. Identifying the underlying developmental and social processes operating across life for low birth weight infants may inform the design of appropriate interventions to support participation in LTPA across life.
Highlights
Regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) provides many health benefits that include reduced rates of early death from chronic disease, whereas physical inactivity is a major contributor to morbidity and premature mortality [2,39]
We examined prospectively collected data from the longest running British birth cohort and found that low birth weight was associated with lower ability in school sports and with nonparticipation in LTPA across adulthood
Our findings showed that, when compared with low birth weight, those in heavier birth weight groups were more likely to be rated by their school teacher as above average or average rather than below average in sports at age 13 yr and were more likely to participate in LTPA between ages 36 and 68 yr
Summary
Regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) provides many health benefits that include reduced rates of early death from chronic disease, whereas physical inactivity is a major contributor to morbidity and premature mortality [2,39]. Low birth weight has been associated with poorer motor and cognitive development [27] These findings [4,5,12,23,27,32,38,41] alongside animal studies showing less physical activity in those born to undernourished mothers [42] provide evidence to suggest that adolescents and adults with low birth weight might participate less in LTPA. EPIDEMIOLOGY gestational age (i.e., preterm birth) [11,13], and any associations between low birth weight and less LTPA could be driven by an intrauterine growth restriction, a reduced gestational age, or a combination of both
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