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[COMPARISON OF PSYCHOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT IN PRESCHOOL CHILEAN NORMAL WEIGHT VERSUS OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY]

Mariela Méndez Ruíz1, Jessica Estay Carvajal2, Aracelis Calzadilla Nuñez3

  • 1Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau, Santiago.. solicitudesges.cabl@redsalud.gov.cl.

Nutricion Hospitalaria
|August 12, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children who are overweight or obese have poorer motor skills. This study found that preschool children with excess weight showed significantly lower motor development compared to normal-weight peers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Childhood Obesity

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns.
  • Nutritional status can impact various aspects of child development, including motor skills.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the psychomotor development (DSM Nutritional) of preschool children across three weight categories: normal, overweight, and obese.
  • To investigate the relationship between nutritional status and motor skill development in 4- to 4.5-year-old children.

Main Methods:

  • The "TEPSI" test was administered to 58 preschool children (aged 4-4.5 years) categorized into normal weight (n=28), overweight (n=18), and obese (n=12) groups.
  • Nutritional status was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI) for age percentiles (CDC guidelines).
  • Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Tukey's test, and Kruskal-Wallis test, with significance set at α ≤ 0.05.

Main Results:

  • Preschool children classified as overweight or obese demonstrated inferior and significantly lower psychomotor development profiles, respectively, when compared to their normal-weight counterparts.
  • A clear trend of reduced motor skills was observed with increasing weight status.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight and obesity are negatively associated with the development of motor skills in 4-year-old preschool children.
  • Early identification and intervention for childhood overweight/obesity may be crucial for supporting optimal motor skill acquisition.
Abstract

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