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Reprint of "Relationship between BMI, waist circumference, physical activity and probable developmental coordination

Divya Joshi1, Cheryl Missiuna2, Steven Hanna1

  • 1Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Human Movement Science
|June 22, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children with probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD) show increased BMI and waist circumference over time, particularly in boys. Physical activity did not mediate this relationship but was independently linked to better body composition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Body Composition Research

Background:

  • Cross-sectional studies link developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to lower physical activity and higher weight.
  • Longitudinal data on DCD's impact on body composition (BMI, waist circumference) over time is limited.
  • The influence of sex and physical activity on the DCD-body composition relationship remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess changes in BMI and waist circumference in children with and without probable DCD (pDCD) as they age.
  • To determine if these changes differ by sex.
  • To investigate if physical activity levels explain differences in body composition between children with and without pDCD over time.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal analysis of Physical Health Activity Study Team (PHAST) data.
  • Inclusion of 2,278 children (9-10 years old at baseline, 103 with pDCD).
  • Five-year follow-up using mixed-effects modeling to analyze body composition changes.

Main Results:

  • Children with pDCD exhibited higher BMI and waist circumference than typically developing peers, with this gap widening over time.
  • The association between pDCD and BMI progression varied by sex, with boys showing a faster increase.
  • Physical activity did not mediate or moderate the pDCD-body composition link but was independently associated with lower BMI and waist circumference.

Conclusions:

  • Probable DCD is linked to elevated body mass and waist circumference, key risk factors for serious health issues.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring body composition in children with pDCD.
  • Interventions targeting physical activity may benefit children's body composition independently of DCD status.
Abstract

Keywords:
BMIChildrenDevelopmental coordination disorderPhysical activityWaist circumference

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