Relationship between Motor Skill and Body Mass Index in 5- to 10-Year-Old Children

TLDR

International BMI cut‑offs from Cole et al. (2000) define normal‑weight, overweight, and obese categories. The study examined gross and fine motor skill differences between overweight/obese and normal‑weight children. All 117 5‑ to 10‑year‑old participants were classified by BMI into normal‑weight, overweight, or obese groups, and motor skill was measured with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate gross and fine motor skill in overweight and obese children compared with normal-weight peers. According to international cut-off points for Body Mass Index (BMI) from Cole et al. (2000), all 117 participants (5–10 year) were classified as being normal-weight, overweight, or obese. Level of motor skill was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Scores for balance ( p < .01) and ball skills ( p < .05) were significantly better in normal-weight and overweight children as compared with their obese counterparts. A similar trend was found for manual dexterity ( p < .10). This study demonstrates that general motor skill level is lower in obese children than in normal-weight and overweight peers.