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This study compared the associations among motor competence, health-related fitness, and physical activity measured by gold standard and field-based methods in children. A total of 248 first-grade children (153 boys) aged 6–7 years participated in the study. Motor competence was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development, Second Edition (TGMD −2). Gold standard measures were percent body fat using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, peak oxygen uptake per weight using a gas analyser, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity using accelerometers. Field-based measures were body mass index, maximum speed during progressive running on a treadmill, and a physical activity questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age and sex was used to examine the associations of motor competence with one of the health-related variables and compared differences by measurement method. The results indicated that field-based measures models showed lower associations (R2 = 0.02–0.17) than the gold standard (R2 = 0.21–0.27) and lower standardised regression coefficients for sex and motor competence, except for maximum speed. In conclusion, gold standard measures resulted in stronger associations between motor competence, and health-related fitness and physical activity in children. Examining the contribution of motor competence in children's health using field-based tests can underestimate it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The later achievement of gross motor milestones during infancy is associated with adiposity in early childhood. However, the associations between gross motor development and adiposity after entering primary school are unclear. This study examined the associations between the ages at which six gross motor milestones were achieved and adiposity during early school years. Methods This retrospective study was conducted in 2012 and 2013. Data were collected from 225 first-grade primary school children (mean age, 6.9 years; 39% girls). Adiposity was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and expressed as body fat percentage. Data describing the ages of achieving six gross motor milestones (holding head up, sitting, crawling, standing supported, walking supported, and independent walking) were obtained from the Maternal and Child Health Handbooks. Results Mean body fat percentage was 21.7%. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that later ages of achieving crawling (p < .001 [95% confidence interval: 0.33-1.16]), standing supported (p < .001 [95% confidence interval: 0.64-1.65]), and walking supported [p = .013 (95% confidence interval: 0.13-1.07)] were associated with increased fat. However, the ages of achieving holding head up (p = .053), sitting (p = .175), and independent walking (p = .736) were not statistically significant. Conclusions Achieving crawling, standing supported, and walking supported later predict increased body fat when aged 6-7 years. The practice of observing gross motor milestone achievements may allow early targeted interventions to optimize body composition before beginning school and thereby, potentially prevent childhood obesity., Author(s): Tomoko Aoyama [sup.1] [sup.2] , Yuki Hikihara [sup.3] , Masashi Watanabe [sup.4] , Hitoshi Wakabayashi [sup.5] , Satoshi Hanawa [sup.6] , Naomi Omi [sup.7] , Hidemi Takimoto [sup.1] , [...]

It is difficult to easily estimate skeletal muscle (SM) volume in children. We aimed to develop regression-based prediction equations to estimate the total body and regional SM volume using calliper measurements of skinfold thickness and limb circumference and to investigate the validity of these equations. In total, 142 healthy, prepubertal, Japanese children, aged 6–12 years, were divided into two groups: the model development group (sixty boys, thirty-eight girls) and the validation group (twenty-six boys, eighteen girls). Contiguous magnetic resonance images were obtained from the first cervical vertebra to the ankle joints as reference data. SM volume was calculated from the summation of the digitised cross-sectional areas. Limb and waist circumferences were measured at mid-upper arm, mid-thigh, maximal calf and at the level of umbilicus. Each girth was corrected for subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, as estimated by skinfold thickness measurements. Skinfold thickness was measured at the posterior upper arm, anterior thigh, medial calf and lateral to the umbilicus, using callipers. Significant correlations were observed between the site-matched SM volume, measured by MRI, and each corrected girth × standing height value in the model development group. When these SM volume prediction equations were applied to the validation group, the measured total body and regional SM volume were similar to the predicted values. These results suggest that the anthropometric prediction equations developed in this study provide reliable information about the total and regional SM volume in prepubertal Japanese children, with varying degrees of estimation accuracy for each region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Inhalation rate is an essential factor for determining the inhaled dose of air pollutants. Here, accelerometers were used to develop regression equations for predicting the minute ventilation rate ([V.sub.E]) [...]

Background: The current study evaluated the validity of 3 commercially-available accelerometers to assess metabolic equivalent values (METs) during 12 activities. Methods: Thirty-three men and thirty-two women were enrolled in this study. The subjects performed 5 nonlocomotive activities and 7 locomotive movements. The Douglas bag method was used to gather expired air. The subjects also wore 3 hip accelerometers, a Lifecorder uniaxial accelerometer (LC), and 2 triaxial accelerometers (ActivTracer, AT; Actimarker, AM). Results: For nonlocomotive activities, the LC largely underestimated METs for all activities (20.3%-55.6%) except for desk work. The AT overestimated METs for desk work (11.3%) and hanging clothes (11.7%), but underestimated for vacuuming (2.3%). The AM underestimated METs for all nonlocomotive activities (8.0%-19.4%) except for hanging clothes (overestimated by 16.7%). The AT and AM errors were significant, but much smaller than the LC errors (23.2% for desk work and -22.3 to -55.6% for the other activities). For locomotive movements, the 3 accelerometers significantly underestimated METs for all activities except for climbing down stairs. Conclusions: We conclude that there were significant differences for most activities in 3 accelerometers. However, the AT, which uses separate equations for nonlocomotive and locomotive activities, was more accurate for nonlocomotive activities than the LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the potential relationship between participation in physical activity (PA) assessed by triaxial accelerometry and physical fitness testing, including health-related and skill-related parameters of fitness, in 136 Japanese preschoolers (65 girls and 71 boys, 5.5 ± 0.6 years). In partial correlation analyses, grip strength and 20m shuttle run test were positively correlated with time spent in physical activity ratio (PAR) ≥ 4. Better scores on standing long jump distance and jump over and crawl under tests were associated with lower sedentary time and greater moderate-to-vigorous PA time and PAR ≥ 4 time, and increased physical activity level. Moreover, 25m run speed was positively correlated with time spent in PAR ≥ 4 and locomotive activity. These findings suggest that development of both health-related (muscle strength and aerobic fitness) and skill-related fitness (power, agility and speed) may make engagement in PA easier for preschool children, although further research on the cause-effect relationship is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]