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Weight status and gross motor skill in kindergarten children
Dawn Roberts1, Diana Veneri, Robert Decker
1Department of Physical Therapy, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts 01109, USA. droberts@springfieldcollege.edu
Insights
Children with obesity have lower gross motor skills, particularly in balance and movement. This suggests a need to adapt physical activity expectations for young children with obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Global childhood obesity rates are rising.
- Physical activity is a key factor in weight management.
- Gross motor skills are essential for physical activity participation in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between gross motor skill proficiency and weight status.
- To analyze data from a large, nationally representative sample of kindergarten-aged children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 4,650 children in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort.
- Calculated Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile rankings.
- Assessed gross motor skills using the Early Screening Inventory Revised, categorizing children as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese per CDC criteria.
Main Results:
- Children classified as having obesity demonstrated significantly lower gross motor skill levels compared to healthy-weight peers.
- The most pronounced differences were observed in locomotor skills and balance abilities.
Conclusions:
- Gross motor skill deficits are linked to obesity in young children.
- Healthcare providers should consider modifying gross motor task expectations for children with obesity, focusing on locomotor and stability skills.
Purpose:
Childhood obesity rates are increasing globally. Physical activity is one behavioral variable that influences weight status. Participation in physical activity requires basic gross motor proficiency in early childhood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between gross motor skill level and weight status in a large national representative sample of kindergarten-aged children.
Methods:
Body mass index percentile ranking was calculated for 4650 children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort. Children were classified into underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese categories according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. The Early Screening Inventory Revised was used to evaluate gross motor skill level.
Results:
Children with obesity displayed lower gross motor skill levels compared with peers of healthy weight. Largest differences were seen in locomotor and balance skills.
Conclusions:
Clinicians should consider adjusting gross motor expectations for locomotor or stability tasks in young children with obesity.
