Abstract
Changes in lifestyle can be significantly reflected in growth and development. Adaptations to reduced levels of physical activity, together with non-corresponding nutritional intakes, can result in body build and body composition changes at an early age. The present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the secular trend of modifications of body composition and body mass index (BMI) in Czech preschoolers over the last two to three decades. Boys and girls (386 boys and 372 girls) aged 4 to 6 years in 2014–2019 were measured. Outcome data were compared with the reference sample of preschoolers from 1990: 911 boys and 896 girls. Body height, BMI, and percentage of body fat, muscle, and bone mass were evaluated. Height and BMI have not changed. Body fat increased in both genders (p < 0.01), and contrarily, a significant reduction of muscle and skeletal mass was revealed (p < 0.001). Significant changes in body composition and unchanged BMI indicate the development of latent obesity during the last few decades. Due to latent obesity in a recent cohort, the differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity markers according to BMI and fat percentage were tested. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher by 7.2% in boys, and by 6.5% in girls, as compared to children evaluated according to only their BMI results. Secular changes in preschoolers’ physical builds over the last 25 years are not reflected in body height and BMI, but in body composition. Insufficient development of active, lean body mass proportionally compensated by increased fat mass was also indicated.
Highlights
Changing environments and lifestyles have significantly impacted the growth and development of children and adolescents, reflecting a family’s health habits and standards from many points of view, starting from the very beginning of life [1,2]
Systematic research of Czech preschool children began in the late fifties of the last century and has continued until the present; with the results summarized in the second edition of a special monography in 2010 [5]
There were no significant differences in any age category in the girls, the body mass index (BMI) values showed comparable values for both cohorts (Table 2)
Summary
Changing environments and lifestyles have significantly impacted the growth and development of children and adolescents, reflecting a family’s health habits and standards from many points of view, starting from the very beginning of life [1,2]. An adaptation to reduced physical activity is one of the most decisive characteristics of modern lifestyles [3], resulting in several undesirable changes, most of which are permanent [4,5] and accompanied by increased health risks [6,7,8]. Increasing adiposity and the deterioration of selected motor and other functional abilities have reduced the levels of physical activity in children and adolescents even further [8,9,10]. Enhanced fat deposition on the trunk (evaluated by a skinfold thickness measurement) has indicated an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, reduced cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal problems, etc. Inadequate nutrition, (i.e., energy intake not corresponding to real needs due to reduced energy expenditure) along with inappropriate dietary composition (i.e., an increased intake of simple sugars, saturated fats, etc.) have both been thought to contribute to overall health problems [17,18,19]
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