Ingrid Ruzbarska
Gross motor coordination in relation to weight status in 7- to 9-year-old children
Číslo: 3/2020
Periodikum: Acta Gymnica
DOI: 10.5507/ag.2020.016
Klíčová slova: childhood, motor competence, obesity, physical activity
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Anotace:
Background: The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide with its negative health and psychosocial consequences. Research evidence suggests that obesity is strongly associated with low motor competence. In the past two decades, there has been increasing evidence that motor competence is crucial for developing an active and healthy lifestyle.
Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate gross motor coordination in overweight and obese children compared with normal-weight peers.
Methods: Data were collected in 326 children (160 boys, 49.1%) aged 7-9 years (mean 8.02, SD 0.81). Their weight status determined by body mass index (BMI) was defined in accordance with the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points for children and they were classified into two BMI groups: a normal-weight group and an overweight/obese group. Gross motor coordination was identified by means of the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder (KTK). Differences between groups were evaluated using independent samples t-test. Pearson correlations were performed to explore the associations between motor coordination indicators and BMI.
Results: This study demonstrated that gross motor coordination is significantly lower in overweight and obese girls and boys than in normal-weight children. Small to moderate inverse correlations (-.18 ≤ r ≤ -.39) were found between KTK parameters and BMI, for both sexes. More than 15% of the normal-weight children were identified as being motor impaired, but that proportion was 59.3% in overweight and obese children.
Conclusions: Children with normal weight of both sexes demonstrated significantly higher gross motor coordination than overweight and obese children. Considering the crucial role of motor competence in physical activity engagement, there is a need for early identification of possible motor impairments in overweight or obese children.
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Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate gross motor coordination in overweight and obese children compared with normal-weight peers.
Methods: Data were collected in 326 children (160 boys, 49.1%) aged 7-9 years (mean 8.02, SD 0.81). Their weight status determined by body mass index (BMI) was defined in accordance with the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points for children and they were classified into two BMI groups: a normal-weight group and an overweight/obese group. Gross motor coordination was identified by means of the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder (KTK). Differences between groups were evaluated using independent samples t-test. Pearson correlations were performed to explore the associations between motor coordination indicators and BMI.
Results: This study demonstrated that gross motor coordination is significantly lower in overweight and obese girls and boys than in normal-weight children. Small to moderate inverse correlations (-.18 ≤ r ≤ -.39) were found between KTK parameters and BMI, for both sexes. More than 15% of the normal-weight children were identified as being motor impaired, but that proportion was 59.3% in overweight and obese children.
Conclusions: Children with normal weight of both sexes demonstrated significantly higher gross motor coordination than overweight and obese children. Considering the crucial role of motor competence in physical activity engagement, there is a need for early identification of possible motor impairments in overweight or obese children.