Published September 3, 2016 | Version 10005598
Journal article Open

Motor Coordination and Body Mass Index in Primary School Children

Description

Obese children will probably become obese adults, consequently exposed to an increased risk of comorbidity and premature mortality. Body weight may be indirectly determined by continuous development of coordination and motor skills. The level of motor skills and abilities is an important factor that promotes physical activity since early childhood. The aim of the study is to thoroughly understand the internal relations between motor coordination abilities and the somatic development of prepubertal children and to determine the effect of excess body weight on motor coordination by comparing the motor ability levels of children with different body mass index (BMI) values. The data were collected from 436 children aged 7–10 years, without health limitations, fully participating in school physical education classes. Body height was measured with portable stadiometers (Harpenden, Holtain Ltd.), and body mass—with a digital scale (HN-286, Omron). Motor coordination was evaluated with the Kiphard-Schilling body coordination test, Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. The normality test by Shapiro-Wilk was used to verify the data distribution. The correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant negative association between the dynamic balance and BMI, as well as between the motor quotient and BMI (p<0.01) for both boys and girls. The results showed no effect of gender on the difference in the observed trends. The analysis of variance proved statistically significant differences between normal weight children and their overweight or obese counterparts. Coordination abilities probably play an important role in preventing or moderating the negative trajectory leading to childhood overweight and obesity. At this age, the development of coordination abilities should become a key strategy, targeted at long-term prevention of obesity and the promotion of an active lifestyle in adulthood. Motor performance is essential for implementing a healthy lifestyle in childhood already. Physical inactivity apparently results in motor deficits and a sedentary lifestyle in children, which may be accompanied by excess energy intake and overweight.

Files

10005598.pdf

Files (204.8 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:5062dfc208044fa344fd5872d52ce519
204.8 kB Preview Download

Additional details

References

  • E. D'Hondt, B. Deforche, I. D. Bourdeaudhuij, and M. Lenoir, "Relationship between motor skill and body mass index in 5- to 10-year-old children," Adapt. Phys. Activ. Q., vol. 26, pp. 21–37, 2010, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19246771.
  • E. D'Hondt, B. Deforche, R. Vaeyens, B. Vandorpe, J. Vandrendriessche, et al., "Gross motor coordination in relation to weight status and age in 5- to 12-year-old boys and girls: a cross-sectional study," Int. J. Pediatr. Obes., vol. 6(2–2), pp. 556–564, 2011, doi: 10.3109/17477166.2010.500388.
  • D. Stodden, S. Langendorfer, and M. A. Roberton, "The association between skill competence and physical fitness in young adults," Res. Q. Exerc. Sport, vol. 80(2), pp. 223–229, 2009.
  • F. Z. Catenassi, I. Marques, C. B. Bastos, L. Basso, E. R. V. Ronque, et al., "Relationship between body mass index and gross motor skill in four to six year-old children," Rev. Bras. Med. Esporte, vol. 13(4), pp. 203–206, 2007.
  • H. G. Williams, K. A. Pfeiffer, J. R. O'Neill, M. Dowda, K. L. McIver, et al., "Motor skill performance and physical activity in preschool children," Obesity, vol. 16(6), pp. 1421–1426, 2008, doi: 10.1038/oby.2008.214.
  • I. Gentier, E. D'Hondt, S. Shultz, B. Deforche, M. Augustin, et al., "Fine and gross motor skills differ between healthy-weight and obese children," Res. Dev. Disabil., vol. 34(11), pp. 4043–4051, 2013.
  • T. J. Cole, M. C. Belizzi, K. M. Flegal, and W. H. Dietz, "Establishing a standard definition for overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey," BMJ, vol. 320, pp. 1240–1243, 2000.
  • F. Schilling, and E. J. Kiphard, Körperkoordination-Test-für-Kinder (Manual). Weinheim: Beltz Test GmbH, 1974.
  • IOTF—International Obesity Task Force, 2012, http://www.iuns.org/. [10] W. H. Dietz, and M. C. Belizzi, "Introduction: the use of body mass index to assess obesity in children," Am. J. Clin. Nutr., vol. 70(1), pp. 123S–125S, 1999, http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/1/123s.full. [11] N. F. Krebs, J. H. Himes, D. Jacobson, T. A. Nicklas, P. Guilday, et al., "Assessment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity," Pediatrics, vol. 120 (suppl. 4), pp. 193–228, 2007, doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-2329D. [12] V. P. Lopes, L. P. Rodrigues, J. A. R. Maia, and R. M. Malina, "Motor coordination as predictor of physical activity in childhood," Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports, vol. 21(5), pp. 663–669, 2011, doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01027.x. [13] J. Cawley, and C. K. Spiess, "Obesity and skill attainment in early childhood," Econ. Hum. Biol., vol. 6(3), pp. 388–397, 2008. [14] S. C. Dumith, V. V. Ramires, M. A. Souza, D. S. Moraes, F. G. Petry, et al., "Overweight/obesity and physical fitness among children and adolescents," J. Phys. Act. Health, vol. 7(5), pp. 641–648, 2010. [15] C. Graf, B. Koch, E. Kretschmann-Kandel, G. Falkowski, H. Christ, et al., "Correlation between BMI, leisure habits and motor abilities in childhood (CHILT-Project)," Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., vol. 28(1), pp. 22–26, 2004, doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802428. [16] C. Graf, B. Koch, G. Falkowski, S. Jouck, H. Christ, et al., "Effects of a school-based intervention on BMI and motor abilities in childhood," J. Sports Sci. Med., vol. 4(3), pp. 291–299, 2005, http://www.jssm.org/vol4/11/v4n3-11text.php. [17] R. Psotta, J. Kokštejn, G. Jahodová, and P. Frýbort, "Je nízka motorická kompetence rizikovým faktorem nadváhy a obezity u dětí mladšího školního věku?," Česká kinantropologie, vol. 14(2), pp. 96–106, 2010. [18] M. Haga, "Physical fitness in children with high motor competence is different from that in children with low motor competence," Phys. Ther., vol. 89(10), pp. 1089–1097, 2009, doi: 10.2522/ptj.20090052.