TY - JOUR

T1 - Is prepubertal growth adversely affected by sport?

AU - Damsgaard, R

AU - Bencke, J

AU - Matthiesen, G

AU - Petersen, J H

AU - Müller, J

PY - 2000/10

Y1 - 2000/10

N2 - PURPOSE: To study the effect of genetic factors, birth weight, early childhood growth, sport, hours of training, and pubertal status on the stature and body mass index (BMI) of children aged 9-13 participating in sports at a competitive level.METHODS: A total of 184 children (96 girls, 88 boys), competing in swimming, tennis, team handball, and gymnastics, were investigated, assessing their height, weight, pubertal development, and BMI. Of these, 137 (76 girls, 61 boys) returned a questionnaire, which enabled us to determine height and BMI at age 2-4, birth weight, and parental heights.RESULTS: Significant differences in standard deviation scores (SDS) for actual height and for height at age 2-4 were found in both sexes between the four sports. In girls, BMI SDS was significantly different between the four sports, whereas no difference was found in boys. Each sport investigated separately showed no change in height SDS and BMI SDS between ages 2-4 and 9-13. A regression analysis showed that target height, height at age 2-4, and pubertal status had a significant impact on actual height. Interestingly, the type of sport and hours of training per week had no effect on height SDS. In boys, BMI at age 2-4 and pubertal status had a significant effect on actual BMI, whereas in girls, only BMI at age 2-4 was significant.CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that prepubertal growth is not adversely affected by sport at a competitive level and that constitutional factors are of importance for choice of sport in children.

AB - PURPOSE: To study the effect of genetic factors, birth weight, early childhood growth, sport, hours of training, and pubertal status on the stature and body mass index (BMI) of children aged 9-13 participating in sports at a competitive level.METHODS: A total of 184 children (96 girls, 88 boys), competing in swimming, tennis, team handball, and gymnastics, were investigated, assessing their height, weight, pubertal development, and BMI. Of these, 137 (76 girls, 61 boys) returned a questionnaire, which enabled us to determine height and BMI at age 2-4, birth weight, and parental heights.RESULTS: Significant differences in standard deviation scores (SDS) for actual height and for height at age 2-4 were found in both sexes between the four sports. In girls, BMI SDS was significantly different between the four sports, whereas no difference was found in boys. Each sport investigated separately showed no change in height SDS and BMI SDS between ages 2-4 and 9-13. A regression analysis showed that target height, height at age 2-4, and pubertal status had a significant impact on actual height. Interestingly, the type of sport and hours of training per week had no effect on height SDS. In boys, BMI at age 2-4 and pubertal status had a significant effect on actual BMI, whereas in girls, only BMI at age 2-4 was significant.CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that prepubertal growth is not adversely affected by sport at a competitive level and that constitutional factors are of importance for choice of sport in children.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Basketball/physiology

KW - Birth Weight/genetics

KW - Body Height/genetics

KW - Body Mass Index

KW - Child

KW - Growth/genetics

KW - Gymnastics/physiology

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Puberty/genetics

KW - Sports/physiology

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Swimming/physiology

KW - Tennis/physiology

U2 - 10.1097/00005768-200010000-00006

DO - 10.1097/00005768-200010000-00006

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 11039640

VL - 32

SP - 1698

EP - 1703

JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

SN - 0195-9131

IS - 10

ER -