Birth weight in relation to leisure time physical activity in adolescence and adulthood: meta-analysis of results from 13 nordic cohorts.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal life exposures, potentially manifested as altered birth size, may influence the later risk of major chronic diseases through direct biologic effects on disease processes, but also by modifying adult behaviors such as physical activity that may influence later disease risk.


RESULTS
We investigated the association between birth weight and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in 43,482 adolescents and adults from 13 Nordic cohorts. Random effects meta-analyses were performed on categorical estimates from cohort-, age-, sex- and birth weight specific analyses. Birth weight showed a reverse U-shaped association with later LTPA; within the range of normal weight the association was negligible but weights below and above this range were associated with a lower probability of undertaking LTPA. Compared with the reference category (3.26-3.75 kg), the birth weight categories of 1.26-1.75, 1.76-2.25, 2.26-2.75, and 4.76-5.25 kg, had odds ratios of 0.67 (95% confidence interval: 0.47, 0.94), 0.72 (0.59, 0.88), 0.89 (0.79, 0.99), and 0.65 (0.50, 0.86), respectively. The shape and strength of the birth weight-LTPA association was virtually independent of sex, age, gestational age, educational level, concurrent body mass index, and smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between birth weight and undertaking LTPA is very weak within the normal birth weight range, but both low and high birth weights are associated with a lower probability of undertaking LTPA, which hence may be a mediator between prenatal influences and later disease risk.
Andersen
Lise Geisler
LG
Institute of Preventive Medicine, Center for Health and Society, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Angquist
Lars
L
Gamborg
Michael
M
Byberg
Liisa
L
Bengtsson
Calle
C
Canoy
Dexter
D
Eriksson
Johan G
JG
Eriksson
Marit
M
Järvelin
Marjo-Riitta
MR
Lissner
Lauren
L
Nilsen
Tom I
TI
Osler
Merete
M
Overvad
Kim
K
Rasmussen
Finn
F
Salonen
Minna K
MK
Schack-Nielsen
Lene
L
Tammelin
Tuija H
TH
Tuomainen
Tomi-Pekka
TP
Sørensen
Thorkild I A
TI
Baker
Jennifer L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D055815:Young Adult