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Participation in Physical Activity, Fitness, and Risk for Obesity in Children with Developmental Coordination
S A Cermak1, N Katz2, N Weintraub3
1USC Mrs T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Insights
Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) show lower physical activity, more sedentary behavior, poorer fitness, and higher overweight rates than typical peers. These findings were consistent across the United States and Israel.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Motor Development
- Cross-Cultural Studies
Background:
- Decreased physical activity is linked to poor fitness and obesity in children.
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) may impact physical activity and health outcomes.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for early intervention and health promotion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between motor coordination, physical activity, sedentary behavior, fitness, and weight status in children.
- To conduct a cross-cultural comparison of these factors in the United States and Israel.
- To identify health concerns for children with DCD relevant to clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- 118 children aged 6-11 (53 with DCD, 65 typical) from the US and Israel participated.
- Assessments included the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2, motor proficiency tests, and the Six-Minute Walk Test.
- Accelerometers measured physical activity, while parent questionnaires and BMI provided further data.
Main Results:
- Children with DCD consistently showed reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behavior compared to typical children.
- Poorer fitness levels and higher rates of overweight were observed in children with DCD.
- No significant differences in these outcomes were found between the US and Israeli samples.
Conclusions:
- Children with DCD face significant challenges with physical activity, fitness, and weight management in both the US and Israel.
- Occupational therapy integration is vital for health promotion initiatives targeting children with DCD.
- Further research with larger, diverse samples and blinded testers is recommended.
Abstract:
Decreased physical activity has been linked to poor fitness and obesity, resulting in increased risk for health concerns. The objective is to study the relationships between children's motor coordination and their physical activity, sedentary behaviour, fitness and weight status in a cross-cultural study in the United States and Israel. Participants included 118 children 6-11 years of age: 53 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and 65 typical children. The US sample included 31 DCD children and 44 typical children. The Israeli sample included 22 DCD children and 21 typical children. Participants were assessed on Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2, strength test of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2 and Six-minute Walk Test and wore an accelerometer. Parents completed physical activity questionnaires and demographic information. Body mass index was calculated based on height and weight. Testing took place in two sessions. Findings are that in both Israel and the United States, children with DCD demonstrated significantly reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behaviour, poorer fitness and increased overweight compared with typical children. No significant differences were found for country. With relevance to clinical practice, fitness and obesity are major concerns for children with DCD in both countries. Inclusion of occupational therapy in health promotion for this population is critical. Additional studies with testers blind to group, larger samples and other countries are recommended.
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