Słojewska Kinga, Galbarczyk Andrzej, Klimek Magdalena, Mijas Magdalena, Tubek-Krokosz Anna, Krzych-Miłkowska Karolina, Ścibor Monika, Jasienska Grazyna
Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Doctoral School of Medical and Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 20;15(1):30652. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-14620-w.
Conditions during fetal development are crucial for a long-term health. Individuals with small size at birth are suggested to have energy-thrifty physiology, a tendency to conserve energy due to adaptations to undernutrition during early development. However, energy also could be saved by having low physical activity. We hypothesize that individuals born smaller are less physically active compared to those born larger. Data were collected from 136 healthy, urban women (mean age 26.6, SD 4.24) over 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. Cycle 1 involved usual physical activity, while in cycles 2 and 3 women were instructed to perform at least 180 min/week of moderate to vigorous activity. Birth weight and length were obtained from personal medical records, and physical activity was monitored using a Fitbit wristband accelerometers. For each woman, ponderal index (indicator of leanness at birth) was calculated. Smaller size at birth predicted lower total energy expenditure during adulthood. The ponderal index was positively associated with duration of vigorous physical activity across all cycles (cycle 1: p < 0.001; cycle 2: p = 0.011; cycle 3: p = 0.004), while the birth weight was positively related to total energy expenditure (cycle 1: p = 0.014; cycle 2: p = 0.008; cycle 3: p = 0.016). Fetal developmental conditions might be associated with physical activity levels in later life. Women born smaller have lower total energy expenditure and are less likely to engage in vigorous activity. These findings underscore the role of early life factors in shaping health-related behaviors and suggest that individuals born with smaller size may need additional support or tailored interventions to meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
胎儿发育期间的状况对长期健康至关重要。出生时体型较小的个体被认为具有节约能量的生理机能，这是由于在早期发育过程中适应营养不良而产生的一种节约能量的倾向。然而，低体力活动也可以节省能量。我们假设，与出生时体型较大的个体相比，出生时体型较小的个体体力活动较少。在连续3个月经周期内，从136名健康的城市女性（平均年龄26.6岁，标准差4.24）中收集数据。第1个周期记录日常体力活动，而在第2和第3个周期，要求女性每周至少进行180分钟的中度至剧烈活动。出生体重和身长从个人病历中获取，体力活动使用Fitbit腕带加速度计进行监测。计算每位女性的 ponderal 指数（出生时瘦胖程度的指标）。出生时体型较小预示着成年期总能量消耗较低。ponderal 指数与所有周期中剧烈体力活动的持续时间呈正相关（第1个周期：p < 0.001；第2个周期：p = 0.011；第3个周期：p = 0.004），而出生体重与总能量消耗呈正相关（第1个周期：p = 0.014；第2个周期：p = 0.008；第3个周期：p = 0.016）。胎儿发育状况可能与晚年的体力活动水平有关。出生时体型较小的女性总能量消耗较低，且进行剧烈活动的可能性较小。这些发现强调了早期生活因素在塑造健康相关行为中的作用，并表明出生时体型较小的个体可能需要额外的支持或量身定制的干预措施，以达到推荐的体力活动水平。
