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Relationship between physical activity and physical performance in later life in different birth weight groups

Part of: Advancing the DOHaD Agenda in Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2017

H. Jantunen ,
N. S. Wasenius ,
M. K. Salonen ,
M.-M. Perälä ,
H. Kautiainen ,
M. Simonen Open the ORCID record for M. Simonen [Opens in a new window] ,
P. Pohjolainen ,
E. Kajantie ,
M. B. von Bonsdorff  and
J. G. Eriksson
H. Jantunen*
Affiliation:
Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland Department of General Practice and Primary HealthCare, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Centre of Expertise for Health and Work Ability, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
N. S. Wasenius
Affiliation:
Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland Department of General Practice and Primary HealthCare, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
M. K. Salonen
Affiliation:
Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
M.-M. Perälä
Affiliation:
Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
H. Kautiainen
Affiliation:
Department of General Practice and Primary HealthCare, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
M. Simonen
Affiliation:
Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
P. Pohjolainen
Affiliation:
Age Institute, Helsinki, Finland
E. Kajantie
Affiliation:
Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
M. B. von Bonsdorff
Affiliation:
Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
J. G. Eriksson
Affiliation:
Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland Department of General Practice and Primary HealthCare, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: H. Jantunen, Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland. (Email [email protected])
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Abstract

There is strong evidence that physical activity (PA) has an influence on physical performance in later life. Also, a small body size at birth has been associated with lower physical functioning in older age and both small and high birth weight have shown to be associated with lower leisure time physical activity. However, it is unknown whether size at birth modulates the association between PA and physical performance in old age. We examined 695 individuals from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study born in Helsinki, Finland between 1934 and 1944. At a mean age of 70.7 years PA was objectively assessed with a multisensory activity monitor and physical performance with the Senior Fitness Test (SFT). Information on birth weight and gestational age was retrieved from hospital birth records. The study participants were divided in three birth weight groups, that is <3000 g, 3000–3499 g and ⩾3500 g. The volume of PA was significantly associated with the physical performance in all birth weight groups. However, the effect size of the association was large and significant only in men with a birth weight <3000 g (β 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.37–0.81, P<0.001). Our study shows that the association between PA and physical performance is largest in men with low birth weight. Our results suggest that men with low birth weight might benefit most from engaging in PA in order to maintain a better physical performance.

Keywords

agingbirth weightphysical activityphysical performance
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 9 , Issue 1: Themed Issue: DOHaD AFRICA , February 2018 , pp. 95 - 101
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2017 

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