The Effects of a Gymnastics Program on Early Childhood Body Composition Development
Sixty three (25 male and 38 female) 4 to 6 year old children participating in gymnastics programs were compared to 95 control (49 male and 46 female) children. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure whole body bone density and fat mass. Physical activity, physical inactivity, dietary intake, and birth weight of the participants as well as parental heights and weights were also obtained.
No significant differences were found, at any age, between the groups in height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, physical activity, physical inactivity, dietary intakes, and birth weight or in parental heights and weights (p>0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in fat and bone parameters once the confounders of age and size were controlled (p>0.05).
This investigation found that young children entering a gymnastics program did not differ in either bone mass or fat mass compared to controls. This was surprising as differences in these parameters have been found in adolescent gymnasts. Thus my results indicate that the potential effects of gymnastics training may have not yet manifested themselves. To answer this question longitudinal measures are required to ascertain whether the body composition differences observed in adolescent gymnasts are due to prolonged exposure to gymnastics involvement.
Advisor:Baxter-Jones, Adam D. G.
School:University of Saskatchewan
School Location:Canada - Saskatchewan
Source Type:Master's Thesis
Keywords:bone mineral content density young childhood preschool bmi physical activity fat mass gymnastics
Date of Publication:09/04/2007