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The relationship between body mass index and gross motor development in children aged 3 to 5 years

Deborah Nervik1, Kathy Martin, Peter Rundquist

  • 1Franklin Pierce University, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, USA. nervikd@franklinpierce.edu

Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association
|May 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with higher body mass index (BMI) may experience challenges in developing gross motor skills. This study examined BMI and motor development in healthy children aged 3 to 5 years.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Childhood Obesity

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
  • Gross motor skills are crucial for children's physical development and participation in activities.
  • Understanding the relationship between weight status and motor development is essential for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and gross motor development in typically developing children aged 3 to 5 years.
  • To determine if BMI can predict difficulties in gross motor skills.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty healthy children aged 3 to 5 years participated in the study.
  • Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each child.
  • Gross motor skills were assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd edition (PDMS-2).
  • Statistical analyses included Pearson chi-square and stepwise linear hierarchical regression.

Main Results:

  • 24% of the children were classified as overweight or obese.
  • Overweight/obese children were significantly more likely to score below average on gross motor skills (58%) compared to non-overweight children (15%).
  • A significant association was found between BMI and gross motor quotients (p < 0.002).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated BMI in young children (3-5 years) may be linked to impaired gross motor skill development.
  • These findings suggest a need for monitoring motor development in overweight/obese children.
  • Further research is warranted to explore this relationship and its implications.
Abstract

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