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

Rafael S Henrique; David F Stodden; Job Fransen; Anderson H P Feitoza; Alessandro H N Ré; Clarice M L Martins; Thaliane M P Dos Prazeres; Maria T Cattuzzo

doi:10.1002/ajhb.23364

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

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

Authors

Rafael S Henrique¹, David F Stodden², Job Fransen³, Anderson H P Feitoza¹, Alessandro H N Ré⁴, Clarice M L Martins⁵, Thaliane M P Dos Prazeres¹, Maria T Cattuzzo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
² Department of Physical Education & Athletic Training, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
³ Human Performance Research Centre (HPRC), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Physical Education and Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil.

PMID: 31769123
DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23364

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brazil / epidemiology
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Motor Activity*
Obesity, Abdominal / epidemiology*
Obesity, Abdominal / etiology
Pediatric Obesity / epidemiology*
Pediatric Obesity / etiology
Prevalence