GROWTH MATURATION AND BODY COMPOSITION: THE FELS LONGITUDINAL STUDY AND SPORTS MEDICINE 632

Abstract

The Fels Longitudinal Study began in 1929 in Yellow Springs, OH. Almost all children in the Study were born to parents living in the local surrounding communities. Many children in the early years of the Study were enrolled in utero at the rate of about 15-20 children a year. As these children reached maturity and had children, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been enrolled at birth into the Study. Enrollments continue, and the oldest participant is 66 years old. The scheduled examinations of the growth and maturation of the children were at birth, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and then every 6 months to 18 years of age. Adult observations are 2-yearly until age 24 years, at 5-year intervals until age 40 years, and at 2-year intervals after 40 years old. Data collected from participants over the past 66 years have related to or included weight, recumbent length, stature, body circumferences and breadths, skinfolds, blood pressures, timing and sequence of sexual maturation and skeletal maturation, genetic markers, blood lipids and apolipoproteins, homones, body composition from hydrodensitometry and DXA, bioelectrical impedance, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco usage and health status. Statistical methodologies using the growth, anthropometric, body composition, blood pressures and blood lipid data have been developed that are related to prediction, tracking and serial multivariate analytical models. The current reference data for growth status and velocity in U.S. children includes data from the Fels Longitudinal Study. There have been more than 1300 publications resulting from analyses of data from the Fels Longitudinal Study. Using these data, speakers will discuss the assessment of growth and relationship of body size to risk factors for CVD; maturation and association with body composition; comparison of body composition methods; relationships of risk factors for CVD to maturation and body composition; and the significance to sports medicine.