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. 2020 May;32(3):e23364.
doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23364. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Is motor competence associated with the risk of central obesity in preschoolers?

Rafael S Henrique  1 , David F Stodden  2 , Job Fransen  3 , Anderson H P Feitoza  1 , Alessandro H N Ré  4 , Clarice M L Martins  5 , Thaliane M P Dos Prazeres  1 , Maria T Cattuzzo  1
Affiliations

Is motor competence associated with the risk of central obesity in preschoolers?

Rafael S Henrique et al. Am J Hum Biol. 2020 May.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the association between motor competence (MC) and central obesity in preschool children.

Methods: The sample comprised of 472 children aged 3 to 5 years (4.58 ± 0.70 years, 248 boys) from Recife, Brazil. MC was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was calculated and a cutoff of 0.5 was used to define central obesity. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between MC and WHtR ≥ 0.5.

Results: The prevalence of central obesity (WHtR) was 54.0% and 46.4% for boys and girls, respectively. Older children (OR = 0.61; CI = 0.44-0.84; P < .01) and those with higher MC in locomotor skills (OR = 0.96; CI = 0.93-0.99; P < .01) were less likely to present WHtR ≥ 0.5. Sex and object control skills were not associated with WHtR ≥ 0.5.

Conclusions: To reduce the risks of central obesity in children, health practitioners should focus on increasing competence in locomotor skills since preschool years.

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References

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