• Marjaana Tikanmäki, Tuija Tammelin, Nina Kaseva, Marika Sipola-Leppänen, Hanna-Maria Matinolli, Harto Hakonen, Ulf Ekelund, Johan G Eriksson, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Marja Vääräsmäki, and Eero Kajantie.
• Department of Health, Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu and Helsinki, Finland.
• Pediatr. Res. 2017 Apr 1; 81 (4): 550-555.

BackgroundYoung adults born preterm have higher levels of cardio metabolic risk factors and they report less physical activity than their peers born at term. Physical activity provides important cardio metabolic health benefits. We hypothesized that objectively measured physical activity levels are lower and time spent sedentary is higher among preterm-born individuals compared with controls.MethodsWe studied unimpaired participants of the ESTER birth cohort study at age 23.3 y (SD: 1.2): 60 born early preterm (<34 wk), 108 late preterm (34-36 wk), and 178 at term (controls). Physical activity and sedentary time were measured by hip-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph).ResultsAs compared with controls' (mean physical activity, 303 counts per minute (cpm; SD 129)), physical activity was similar among adults born early preterm (mean difference = 21 cpm, 95% CI -61, 19) or late preterm (5 cpm, -27, 38). Time spent sedentary was also similar. Adjustments for early life confounders or current mediating characteristics did not change the results.ConclusionIn contrast to our hypothesis, we found no difference in objectively measured physical activity or time spent sedentary between adults born preterm and at term. The previously reported differences may be limited to physical activity captured by self-report.

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