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Prevalence of obesity and motor performance capabilities in Tyrolean preschool children
Klaus Greier1, Herbert Riechelmann, Martin Burtscher
1University College of Education (KPH) Stams, Stiftshof 1, 6422, Stams, Tirol, Austria, klaus.greier@kph-es.at.
Insights
Motor performance in preschool children is not affected by being underweight or overweight. However, obese children show significantly reduced motor skills, highlighting the need for targeted physical activity programs in preschools.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Motor Development
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood physical activity has declined, impacting motor performance.
- Overweight and obesity in children are associated with decreased motor skills.
- This study investigates the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and motor performance in preschoolers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the motor performance of preschool children.
- To identify specific BMI categories associated with motor skill deficits in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 1,063 preschool children aged 4-5 years from 41 kindergartens in Tyrol, Austria.
- Children were categorized into four BMI groups: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese, using a German reference system.
- Motor performance was assessed using the Karlsruhe Motorik-Screening (KMS 3-6).
Main Results:
- 7.6% of children were overweight and 5.5% were obese.
- Motor performance did not differ significantly between children with normal weight, underweight, or overweight.
- Obese preschool children exhibited significantly lower motor performance compared to normal-weight peers (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Tyrolean preschoolers aligns with national averages.
- Reduced motor performance is specifically linked to obesity in preschool children.
- Targeted physical activity interventions in preschool settings are crucial, especially for children at risk of obesity.
Background:
The childrens' world of movement has changed dramatically during the last decades. As a consequence motor performance decreases particularly in children affected by overweight and obesity. This study analyses the influence of the body mass index (BMI) on motor performance of pre-school children.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study including 41 kindergartens in Tyrol (Austria), 4- to 5-year-old children (n = 1,063) were recruited. Four BMI groups were used according to a German BMI reference system: Group I (anorexic/underweight), group II (normal weight), group III (overweight) and group IV (obese). Motor performance was assessed by the use of the Karlsruhe Motorik-Screening (KMS 3-6).
Results:
Out of the 1,063 preschool children (550 ♂, 513 ♀) 7.6 % (n = 81) were overweight and 5.5 % (n = 58) were obese. The results demonstrate that motor performance of under- and overweight preschool-children is not different from children with normal BMI, but obese children had significantly lower motor performance (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of overweight and obese Tyrolean preschool children is similar to those of non-mountainous areas of Austria and Germany. The fact that motor performance is reduced only in obese children suggests that targeted promotion of physical activity is urgently needed for preschool children particularly considering children with a risk to develop obesity. Besides the efforts of parents, nursery schools are the ideal setting for intervention measures.