Physical Activity, Low Birth Weight, and Insulin Resistance
Physical Activity, Low Birth Weight, and Insulin Resistance
OBJECTIVE To examine whether physical activity influences the association between birth weight and insulin resistance in adolescents.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study comprised adolescents who participated in two cross-sectional studies: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study (n = 520, mean age = 14.6 years) and the Swedish part of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS) (n = 269, mean age = 15.6 years). Participants had valid data on birth weight (parental recall), BMI, sexual maturation, maternal education, breastfeeding, physical activity (accelerometry, counts/minute), fasting glucose, and insulin. Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Maternal education level and breastfeeding duration were reported by the mothers.
RESULTS There was a significant interaction of physical activity in the association between birth weight and HOMA-IR (logarithmically transformed) in both the HELENA study and the EYHS (P = 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively), after adjusting for sex, age, sexual maturation, BMI, maternal education level, and breastfeeding duration. Stratified analyses by physical activity levels (below/above median) showed a borderline inverse association between birth weight and HOMA-IR in the low-active group (standardized β = −0.094, P = 0.09, and standardized β = −0.156, P = 0.06, for HELENA and EYHS, respectively), whereas no evidence of association was found in the high-active group (standardized β = −0.031, P = 0.62, and standardized β = 0.053, P = 0.55, for HELENA and EYHS, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of physical activity may attenuate the adverse effects of low birth weight on insulin sensitivity in adolescents. More observational data, from larger and more powerful studies, are required to test these findings.
A low birth weight is associated with lower insulin sensitivity in youth and with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life. Insulin resistance is the major metabolic disorder in the early stages of type 2 diabetes development. Identification of lifestyle factors able to reduce insulin resistance and the risk of type 2 diabetes associated with a low birth weight at early stages of life is important from a clinical point of view.
It is known that physical activity is associated with a better metabolic profile and insulin sensitivity in children and adolescents. We hypothesized that higher levels of physical activity may attenuate the adverse effect of low birth weight on insulin sensitivity. We tested this hypothesis in two cross-sectional studies conducted on adolescents: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study and the Swedish part of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS).
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether physical activity influences the association between birth weight and insulin resistance in adolescents.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study comprised adolescents who participated in two cross-sectional studies: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study (n = 520, mean age = 14.6 years) and the Swedish part of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS) (n = 269, mean age = 15.6 years). Participants had valid data on birth weight (parental recall), BMI, sexual maturation, maternal education, breastfeeding, physical activity (accelerometry, counts/minute), fasting glucose, and insulin. Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Maternal education level and breastfeeding duration were reported by the mothers.
RESULTS There was a significant interaction of physical activity in the association between birth weight and HOMA-IR (logarithmically transformed) in both the HELENA study and the EYHS (P = 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively), after adjusting for sex, age, sexual maturation, BMI, maternal education level, and breastfeeding duration. Stratified analyses by physical activity levels (below/above median) showed a borderline inverse association between birth weight and HOMA-IR in the low-active group (standardized β = −0.094, P = 0.09, and standardized β = −0.156, P = 0.06, for HELENA and EYHS, respectively), whereas no evidence of association was found in the high-active group (standardized β = −0.031, P = 0.62, and standardized β = 0.053, P = 0.55, for HELENA and EYHS, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of physical activity may attenuate the adverse effects of low birth weight on insulin sensitivity in adolescents. More observational data, from larger and more powerful studies, are required to test these findings.
Introduction
A low birth weight is associated with lower insulin sensitivity in youth and with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life. Insulin resistance is the major metabolic disorder in the early stages of type 2 diabetes development. Identification of lifestyle factors able to reduce insulin resistance and the risk of type 2 diabetes associated with a low birth weight at early stages of life is important from a clinical point of view.
It is known that physical activity is associated with a better metabolic profile and insulin sensitivity in children and adolescents. We hypothesized that higher levels of physical activity may attenuate the adverse effect of low birth weight on insulin sensitivity. We tested this hypothesis in two cross-sectional studies conducted on adolescents: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study and the Swedish part of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS).
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