OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between baseline fat mass and gain in bone area and bone mass in preschoolers studied prospectively for 4 years, with a focus on the role of physical activity and TV viewing.STUDY DESIGN: Children were part of a longitudinal study in which measures of fat, lean and bone mass, height, weight, activity, and diet were taken every 4 months from ages 3 to 7 years. Activity was measured by accelerometer and TV viewing by parent checklist. We included 214 children with total body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic 4500A) scans at ages 3.5 and 7 years.RESULTS: Higher baseline fat mass was associated with smaller increases in bone area and bone mass over the next 3.5 years (P < .001). More TV viewing was related to smaller gains in bone area and bone mass accounting for race, sex, and height. Activity by accelerometer was not associated with bone gains.CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity and TV viewing are related to less bone accrual in preschoolers.
Body Composition Body Mass Index