1. Physical activity levels, early life events & the
nutritional status of Maya children
Inês Varela-Silva, PhD
Centre for Global Health & Human Dev.
Loughborough University, UK © Photo by Teresa Castillo, 2011
m.i.o.varela-silva@lboro.ac.uk
Twitter: @inesvarelasilva
mayaproject.org.uk

2. Background
AAPA 2013 Charles Darwin Award Recipient
Prof Roberto Frisancho
Nutritional dual-burden
Under-and-overnutrition
Coexistence of stunting & overweight/obesity
Intergenerational factors
The Maya in Mexico

3. The Maya in Mérida, Mexico

4. Developed Immigrants in Developing
countries developed countries countries
Growth Normal/tall Normal/short Stunted
status Fat Fatter Fat
Common Excessive intake of dietary fat
factors Excessive caloric comsumption
EE / P. Act Very Probably Not
levels low low known
Metabolic High fat Probably reduced fat Discordant
pathways oxidation & low oxidation information
carb oxidation Energy conserving
mechanisms
Positive growth
Inter-
generational
of mothers &
and early grandmothers: (Probably)...Negative growth of mothers &
life effects positive lasting grandmothers: negative lasting effect on
effect on current current generation
generation

5. Varela-Silva et al (2009). AJHB, 21: 657-663
• N=206, 4-6 year old Maya
21.8% stunted
33.0% overweight/obese
• N= 201, Maya mothers
70% below the 5th perc/height
<150cm
• Birthweight < 3,000 gr
less likely to be OW/OB
more likely to be stunted as children
• Mother < 150 cm
3.6 times more likely of having
stunted children
Physical activity/energy expenditure?

6. Objective measurement of PA - Actiheart
Wilson et al (2011). AJHB, 23: 426-428
• Actiheart® very accurate in estimating EE and PAL
• Well tolerated by children (7days, free-living)
• EKG pads didn’t hold under hot & humid conditions
• Fieldwork conditions more demanding than lab’s
• Several Actihearts damaged/lost

7. Sample (urban Maya – Merida, Mexico)
Whole sample
Children N Age Min-Max
M±SD
Boys 31 8.29±.84 6.82-9.95
Girls 27 8.56±.72 6.95-9.95
Total 58 8.42±.79 6.88-9.95 Actiheart sample
Mothers 58 34.30±6.3 22.52-49.42
N % %
stunting OW/OB
Children 33 33.3% 24.2%
(17 boys)
Moms 33 84.8% 93.9%

8. Varela-Silva et al (2012). Coll. Antropol, 36: 39-45
Children Mothers
WHO CDC IOTF p-value WHO CDC p-value
Stunting 15.5 31.0 N/A <0.001 55.2 81.0 <0.001
Underweight 1.7 5.2 6.9 Ns 0.0 N/A
Overweight 8.6 12.1 17.2 <0.001 91.4 N/A
Obesity 0.0 15.5 10.3 <0.001 39.7 N/A

9. Body composition, energy expenditure & PA
Wilson et al (2012). AHB, Vol. 39 (5): 432-439
• Lean mass (muscle): strongest predictor of energy
expenditure
• The shorter the stature, the lower the levels of activity
energy expenditure
------------------------------------------------------
• Children: overall highly active, above the guidelines (60
min/day MVPA)
• Girls and stunted children: lowest level of PA
• PA independent of nutritional status

10. Developed Immigrants in Maya in
countries developed countries Merida
Growth Normal/tall Normal/short Dual-burden
status Fat Fatter
Common Excessive intake of dietary fat
factors Excessive caloric comsumption
EE / P. Act Very Probably High
levels low low
Metabolic High fat Probably reduced fat Discordant
pathways oxidation & low oxidation information
carb oxidation Energy conserving
mechanisms
Positive growth (Probably)...Negative Negative
Inter-
generational
of mothers & growth of mothers & growth of
and early grandmothers: grandmothers: negative mothers &
life effects positive lasting lasting effect on current grandmothers:
effect on negative effect
generation
children on children

11. Impact and dissemination of results
mayaproject.org.uk

12. Impact and dissemination

13. Impact and dissemination

14. Impact and dissemination

15. Funding
• Wenner-Gren Foundation (#ICRG-93)
• Santander Universities
• CONACYT, Mexico
• Loughborough University