Body size, body composition and motor performances of mild-to-moderately undernourished Senegalese children

Abstract

Relationships between anthropometric dimensions (stature, weight, arm and calf circumferences, and four subcutaneous skinfolds), and motor performances (dash, standing long jump, throw for distance and grip strength) were considered in 348 mild-to-moderately undernourished Senegalese children 5-13 years of age (168 boys and 180 girls). Weights and statures are, on average, below the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference medians at each age, and deviations are more pronounced in children > 8 years of age and in boys more than girls. Boys, on average, perform better than girls on all tasks. Stature and weight explain about 30-50% of the variance in the performances of children < 10 years of age, while weight explains about 10-25% in children > 10 years of age. Indicators of body composition (estimated arm muscle and subcutaneous fat) have only a limited contribution to the remaining variance in motor performances. Fatness negatively affects the performances of girls > 10 years, but has no effect on performance of boys.

PIP: During 1988-92, in Senegal, surveys were conducted of 348 children 5-13 years old living in Lambabye or Podor districts to examine the influence of body dimensions and body composition on variability in motor performance. Anthropometric values and motor performance values were compared with reference values from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Anthropometric dimensions included stature, weight, arm and calf circumferences, and 4 subcutaneous skinfolds. Motor performances were dash, standing long jump, throw for distance, and grip strength. The mean weight and height of Senegalese children were lower than the NCHS reference medians for each age group. Differences between Senegalese children and the NCHS reference age-matched groups were greater in children over 8 years old and in boys. Yet, boys tended to have better motor performances than girls. Among children younger than 10, height and weight accounted for about 30-50% of the variance in performances. Among children older than 10, weight accounted for 10-25% of the variance. Body composition (i.e., arm muscle and subcutaneous fat) contribute little to the remaining variance in motor performance. Fatness has a negative effect on motor performance among girls younger than 10 but had no effect on boys. The authors could not discern whether the low performance of children raised under marginal conditions is a long-term effect of stunting associated with episodes of malnutrition early in life or the effect of chronic undernutrition during childhood. They also did not know whether catch-up growth will happen during puberty.