Physically active children are leaner and their cholesterol levels are better, according to the results of a study done at Brigham Young University on 262 kids.
Such children become healthier adults with a better chance of escaping problems later with cholesterol and heart disease, the study found.It would therefore make sense to take steps to see that children exercise and stay at a weight appropriate to their age and frame, said Larry A. Tucker, a professor of physical education at the university. His report on the research, conducted with Ronald L. Hager and Gary T. Seljaas that proved the tie-in, was published in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
"It's a triad," said Tucker, emphasizing that while the three things go together - physical activity, less weight and healthier cholesterol levels - skinnier children will not necessarily have good cholesterol levels.
"The more fit the children, the more healthy the cholesterol in all four levels that we measure," said Tucker. "And the main reason that's so is that they were leaner."
The children studied were all Utahns, between 9 and 10 years old who volunteered to be subjects of the research. Each listed the foods they typically eat in a year to determine how much fat is in their day-to-day diet.
Each child ran a mile, timed by researchers, and were measured for fat on the abdomen, arm and calves at the end of the sprint. They did not gain or lose weight during the research period.
"They were told to run as fast as they could," said Tucker, "to tell how fit they are. A distance run is a good measure of aerobic fitness."
At the end, blood samples were drawn and four readings for cholesterol recorded.
The kids who handled the run with relative ease showed better levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride levels and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDLs), "all desirable" than unfit children, said Tucker. Those who came in winded or more slowly on the run appear to be at an increased risk of unhealthy levels of serum cholesterol due primarily to increased levels of body fat.
Tucker said the results showed strong though not surprising relationships between fitness and overall health denominators such as the cholesterol levels. "It would have really been surprising to have the opposite be true,' he said.
"We really ought to paying more attention to children if we want to curb the high rate of coronary heart disease," Tucker said. "The No. 1 risk factor in coronary heart disease is the serum cholesterol level."
Tucker said body fat is the underlying factor related to both fitness and good health so it's logical to conclude that the physically active child has a better chance of growing into a physically healthy adult.