EFFECTS OF NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON PHYSICAL CAPAC ITIES IN PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN LIVING AT ALTITUDE

Ziel

The objective was to study the effects of nutrition and physical activity on the physical capacities of prepubertal children living at altitude. 139 boys from 10 to 12 years old were studied. These boys came from three groups: 32 from comfortable homes at a high socio-economic level (FB); 46 from poor families at a low socio-economic level (VF); and 41 from families at a medium socio-economic level (ALTO). They had always lived in La Paz at altitudes between 4100 meters and 3200 meters. Anthropometric, spirometric, bioenergetic, haematological, biochemical, evaluation of energy balance and impedence measurement data were gathered for all of the children. The children from the FB and Alto gave the impression of being in good health whilst the boys from the VF appeared to be in a rather miserable state.
The preliminary data on the low socioeconomic group (VF) compared with that for the high level group (FB) follows. A net retardation of height/weight development is associated with a lower percentage mass of body fat and lower muscular mass of the thighs and arms. Despite this retardation the thoracic cage and pulmonary volumes have developed in the same way as in the group from the high socio-economic level. There is no impairment of the aerobic metabolic pathway expressed in relative terms. There is a great diminution of the maximum anaerobic strength and capacities, in absolute terms as well as relatively. This bears witness to a qualitative impairment of the anaerobic muscular metabolic pathway. The haematological and biochemical data provide no obvious evidence of malnutrition. Total proteins, albumins and orosomucoids lie in their normal zones. Pre-albumin, even though low on average, is not significantly different from that of other groups. Food intakes also lie within normal limits. Lastly it should be noted that it is the underprivileged group (VF) that had to undergo the greatest bioenergetic constraints (intense activity is more marked in this group than am ongst the other children). The calculation of energy expenditure from heart rate is in process. The impedance measurement data, provide some evidence of an anomaly in the hydroelectrolytic equilibrium in the organisms of the VF children. The underprivileged group (VF), despite the absence of evident biological criteria of malnutrition, are characterised, in comparison with the privileged group, by a net retardation of height/weight development and a collapse of anaerobic physical aptitudes, even though their aerobic aptitudes are relatively well conserved. The project is continuing.

Programm/Programme

IC-ISC C - Activity (Euratom, EEC) on cooperation in science and technology, 1984-

Thema/Themen

Data not available

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

Data not available

Finanzierungsplan

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Koordinator

Université de Clermont-Ferrand I (Université d'Auvergne)

EU-Beitrag

Keine Daten

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49 boulevard Gergovia
63001 Clermont-Ferrand
Frankreich

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