Inter-relationships among physical activity, body fat, and motor performance in 6- to 8-year-old Danish children

Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2012 May;24(2):199-209. doi: 10.1123/pes.24.2.199.

Abstract

This study examined the interrelationships among physical activity (PA), percent body fat (%BF), and motor performance (MP) in 498 6- to 8-year-old Danish children. PA was assessed by accelerometer, %BF was calculated from skinfolds, and the Koordinations Test für Kinder along with a throwing accuracy test was used to assess MP. PA was not correlated with %BF, but was significantly correlated with MP. The strongest correlations existed between %BF and MP. Low %BF/High PA had higher MP scores compared with High %BF/Low PA, and within the High %BF groups MP was higher in the High PA versus Low PA group. When comparing PA by %BF and MP groups, boys in the Low %BF/High MP had higher PA than both the Low %BF/Low MP and High %BF/Low MP groups. In girls, PA was highest in the High %BF/High MP group. This study highlights the complex interrelationships among PA, %BF, and MP in children and the need to develop fundamental motor skills during childhood.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acceleration*
  • Actigraphy / methods
  • Adipose Tissue / physiology*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Denmark
  • Exercise Test / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Task Performance and Analysis