title: Birthweight, body composition, and motor performance in 7- to 10-year-old children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of birthweight on motor performance and body composition in children. Further, we investigated whether associations between birthweight and motor performance changed after adjustment for current height, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), and % body fat.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 483 children (251 males and 232 females) aged 7 to 10 years (mean 8.78, SD 1.0y) born in Vitória Santo Antão (northeast Brazil) were sampled. Motor performance was operationalized using different physical fitness components and gross motor coordination. Physical fitness was measured by handgrip strength, muscle endurance, explosive power, flexibility, agility, running speed, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Gross motor coordination was evaluated by means of the Körper Koordination Test für Kinder (KTK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive correlations between birthweight and height, BMI, and FFM were found. Birthweight was positively correlated with handgrip strength and negatively correlated with 20-meter sprint time, even after controlling for age, height, BMI, FFM, and % body fat. Birthweight was negatively associated with relative VO2max (mL/kg/min); however, the association was no longer significant after inclusion of BMI or FFM in the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Birthweight significantly predicted height, BMI, FFM, and performance in strength and velocity tests, but did not influence gross motor coordination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moura-Dos-Santos
authors.forename: Marcelus Brito
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: De Almeida
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manhães-De-Castro
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Katzmarzyk
authors.forename: José António Ribeiro
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Carol Góis
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Leandro
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*