ADOLESCENT SPORT PARTICIPATION AND AGE AT MENARCHE IN RELATION TO MIDLIFE BODY COMPOSITION, BONE MINERAL DENSITY, FITNESS, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

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• Writer(s): Ravi S, Kujala UM, Tammelin TH, Hirvensalo M, Kovanen V, Valtonen M, Waller B, Aukee P, Sipilä S, Laakkonen EK;
• Publisher: Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport KIHU
• Published: 2020
• Type: Research reports (peer-reviewed)
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• Published in: J Clin Med. 2020 Nov 24;9(12):3797. doi: 10.3390/jcm9123797.
• Research method: Literature review
• Language: English
• Written in cooperation with these organizations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pelvic Floor Research and Therapy Unit, Central Finland Central Hospital, Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylän yliopiston Liikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta, Likes-tutkimuskeskus, Physical Activity, Physical Education, Sport and Health Research Centre, Sports Science Department, School of Social Sciences, Reykjavik University
• Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the associations of competitive sport participation in adolescence and age at menarche (AAM) with body composition, femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), physical performance, and physical activity (PA) in middle-aged women. 1098 women aged 47-55 years formed the sample of this retrospective study. Participants self-reported their PA level at age 13-16 years and AAM. The protocol also included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, physical performance tests, and accelerometer-measured PA. Participants were divided into three groups according to their PA level at the age of 13-16 (no exercise, regular PA, and competitive sport) and according to their AAM (≤12, 13, and ≥14 years). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, participation in competitive sport at age 13-16 was associated with higher midlife lean mass and BMD, and better physical performance compared to groups with no exercise or regular PA. Individuals with AAM ≥ 14 years had lower midlife BMI and fat mass than participants in the other AAM groups and pre- and perimenopausal women with AAM ≥ 14 years had lower BMD than those with AAM ≤ 12. The findings indicate that participation in competitive sport in adolescence is associated with healthier body composition, higher BMD, and better physical performance in midlife, but BMD might be impaired if menarche occurs late.