Active five-year-olds are thinner when they grow up - Five-year-olds should be encouraged to exercise, researchers say, as more active youngsters stay thinner as they grow older.
The effects last even if they do not continue to have an active childhood, according to a new study by American scientists.
The average five-year-old in the study got 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day. For every 10 minutes extra, the children had one-third of a pound less fat tissue aged eight and 11.
Testing the body fat and activity levels of 333 children at aged five, eight and 11, researchers used a special scanner that accurately measures bone, fat and muscle tissue, as well as an accelerometer that measures movement every minute.
The children wore accelerometers to record their activity level for up to five days, providing much more reliable data than them or parents to track their minutes of exercise.
The results, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that those active at five ended up with less fat at age eight and 11.
"We call this effect 'banking' because the kids benefit later on, similar to having a savings account at a bank," said Kathleen Janz, professor of health and sport studies at University of Iowa, who led the study.
"The protective effect is independent of what happens in between.
"The implication is that even five-year-olds should be encouraged to be as active as possible because it pays off as they grow older.
"It doesn't take that much extra physical activity to see a measurable outcome.
"Even 10 extra minutes a day makes a difference in protecting against excessive fat gains."
Prof Janz conceded that further research was need to learn what happens to active children's bodies that helps keep them in better shape when older. One possible explanation is that the active five-year-olds do not develop as many fat cells, or they may have improved their insulin response. They may also have a better metabolism.
The study also indicated that boys were more likely to experience the sustained benefit from activity as five-year-olds, possibly because they are more active aged five than girls.
"In the end, it doesn't take that much extra physical activity to see a measurable outcome," Prof Janz added. "Even 10 extra minutes a day makes a difference in protecting against excessive fat gains." ( telegraph.co.uk )
The effects last even if they do not continue to have an active childhood, according to a new study by American scientists.
The average five-year-old in the study got 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day. For every 10 minutes extra, the children had one-third of a pound less fat tissue aged eight and 11.
Testing the body fat and activity levels of 333 children at aged five, eight and 11, researchers used a special scanner that accurately measures bone, fat and muscle tissue, as well as an accelerometer that measures movement every minute.
The children wore accelerometers to record their activity level for up to five days, providing much more reliable data than them or parents to track their minutes of exercise.
The results, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that those active at five ended up with less fat at age eight and 11.
"We call this effect 'banking' because the kids benefit later on, similar to having a savings account at a bank," said Kathleen Janz, professor of health and sport studies at University of Iowa, who led the study.
"The protective effect is independent of what happens in between.
"The implication is that even five-year-olds should be encouraged to be as active as possible because it pays off as they grow older.
"It doesn't take that much extra physical activity to see a measurable outcome.
"Even 10 extra minutes a day makes a difference in protecting against excessive fat gains."
Prof Janz conceded that further research was need to learn what happens to active children's bodies that helps keep them in better shape when older. One possible explanation is that the active five-year-olds do not develop as many fat cells, or they may have improved their insulin response. They may also have a better metabolism.
The study also indicated that boys were more likely to experience the sustained benefit from activity as five-year-olds, possibly because they are more active aged five than girls.
"In the end, it doesn't take that much extra physical activity to see a measurable outcome," Prof Janz added. "Even 10 extra minutes a day makes a difference in protecting against excessive fat gains." ( telegraph.co.uk )
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