Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, motor performance, and growth of senegalese pre‐adolescents

Abstract

Profiles of usual physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, motor performance, and growth were measured regularly for 2 years in 40 rural Senegalese (Wolof) children—20 boys and 20 girls—who were 10 or 11 years of age and clinically healthy at the beginning of the study. Compared to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference data, the children showed lower weight-for-age and height-for-age throughout the period of observation; the increments of height from year to year were not remarkable and growth spurts were not observed during the study period. The motor performance (running, jumping, throwing) and spirometer test results were inferior to age-matched American children. When adjusted for actual weight and height, jumping and throwing results were similar to those of American children, but running results remained inferior. Cardiorespiratory function appeared inferior to American children of the same age, although speed of recovery after exertion demonstrated good cardiorespiratory efficiency. Physical activity, directly observed over 2-day periods on 4 occasions, corresponded to an average energy expenditure of 1.66 Mets (multiples of basal metabolic rate) (boys) and 1.76 Mets (girls), which are close to the FAO/WHO/UNU values for age. The higher energy expenditure of girls could be explained by their participation in domestic tasks. Both boys and girls spent an average of 42 minutes/day on activities equivalent to energy consumption rates equal or greater than 4.8 Mets. Significant correlations existed between the activity index and cardiorespiratory fitness in boys, and between the activity index and motor performances in girls. Physical aptitudes of sampled children appear compatible with the demands of their social and agricultural tasks. However, it appears that persistent malnutrition may have stunted their growth and motor performances.