Med Headlines - A study published in bmj.com recently disclosed that parents who are active while expecting their child are like to have energetic kids.  Children between the ages 11 and 12 were selected to participate in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). These children were given accelerometer to wear for seven days, which recorded the intensity and frequency of physical activity minute by minute. Defined valid data of minimum three days of at least 10 hours per day was collected from 5451 children and was analyzed in response to various factors hypothesized to affect physical activity.

The study revealed that lower physical activity in children in early life may give rise to some risk factors in the adult disease later in life. Unfortunately, not much is known about early influences on child’s physical activity.

Several factors revealed a modest association with physical activity of child later in life. These factors included mother’s activity during pregnancy - mainly intensive walking and swimming,, season of child’s birth, one or both parents’ physical activity when the child was 21 months old and having an older sibling.

The study also indicated the link with mother’s activity during pregnancy is not due to the biological factors inside the womb. Rather, mothers who are physically active during pregnancy are more likely to remain active even after pregnancy and this influences child’s physical activity. The association with season of birth is difficult to explain but it may be linked to the age at which a child starts school. However, smoking by the mother or a spouse is linked to child’s physical activity. Though maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with childhood obesity, it may also be a consequence of social patters of smoking behavior.

Handful of pre-school exposures (2-5 years) such as TV viewing at 38 and 54 months were moderately associated with later physical activity of child. The results have shown that although there is limited influence on later physical activity in 11 to 12 year old children but the children are little more active if there parents are active early in children’s life.

The scientists have recommended more research; especially study of the children as they grow into adolescence and their physical activity declines, particularly in the girls.