Cadenas-Sanchez Cristina, Fernández-Santos Jorge R, Sánchez-López Mairena, García-Corada Natalia, Moliner-Urdiales Diego, Romero-Parra Nuria, Rodriguez Perez Manuel A, Palou Pere, Dorado-García Cecilia, Vicente-Rodríguez German, Ortega Francisco B, Jiménez-Pavón David
Department of Cardiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Galeno Research Group, Department of Physical Education, School of Education, University of Cádiz, Spain.
Pediatr Obes. 2025 Aug;20(8):e70021. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.70021. Epub 2025 May 13.
Obesity and physical fitness are known to be influenced by various geographic factors and ethnicity in children. However, there is limited evidence on the level to which these factors can influence very early in life, at preschool age. This study aimed to describe and compare total and central obesity and physical fitness according to geographic factors and ethnicity in preschoolers.
This cross-sectional study included 3179 preschoolers (4.6 ± 0.9y, 52.8% boys). Geographic factors (location and type of area: rural/urban) were assessed based on the school setting, while ethnicity was determined through parental self-report. Total and central obesity and physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, speed-agility, balance) were assessed using the PREFIT battery.
Preschoolers from southern regions of Spain presented higher total obesity along with lower performance in cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscular strength compared to their northern peers (p ≤ 0.017). However, they demonstrated greater levels of upper-limb muscular strength and balance (p < 0.001). Preschoolers from rural areas of Spain showed higher central obesity but better fitness performance compared to those from urban areas (p ≤ 0.004). White and African preschoolers showed lower levels of total and central obesity than Latin preschoolers (p ≤ 0.003) and performed better in upper-limb muscular strength and speed-agility compared to Asian or Latin preschoolers (p ≤ 0.037).
This study highlights significant physical health inequalities among preschoolers based on geographical factors and ethnic backgrounds. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health strategies to address socioeconomic and environmental determinants of early-life health disparities.
众所周知，肥胖和身体素质会受到儿童多种地理因素和种族的影响。然而，关于这些因素在学龄前儿童生命早期阶段的影响程度，证据有限。本研究旨在描述和比较学龄前儿童基于地理因素和种族的总体肥胖与中心性肥胖以及身体素质情况。
这项横断面研究纳入了3179名学龄前儿童（4.6±0.9岁，52.8%为男孩）。地理因素（地点和区域类型：农村/城市）根据学校环境进行评估，而种族则通过家长自我报告确定。使用PREFIT测试组合评估总体肥胖与中心性肥胖以及身体素质（心肺适能、肌肉力量、速度敏捷性、平衡能力）。
与西班牙北部的同龄人相比，来自西班牙南部地区的学龄前儿童总体肥胖程度更高，同时心肺适能和下肢肌肉力量表现更低（p≤0.017）。然而，他们的上肢肌肉力量和平衡能力水平更高（p<0.001）。与城市地区的学龄前儿童相比，来自西班牙农村地区的学龄前儿童中心性肥胖程度更高，但身体素质表现更好（p≤0.004）。白种人和非洲裔学龄前儿童的总体肥胖与中心性肥胖水平低于拉丁裔学龄前儿童（p≤0.003），并且与亚洲或拉丁裔学龄前儿童相比，他们在上肢肌肉力量和速度敏捷性方面表现更好（p≤0.037）。
本研究突出了基于地理因素和种族背景的学龄前儿童之间显著的身体健康不平等现象。这些发现强调了需要有针对性的公共卫生策略来解决早期生命健康差异的社会经济和环境决定因素。
