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The Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study: rationale and design
John Cairney1,2,3, Cheryl Missiuna4,5, Brian W Timmons6,7
1Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 5th Floor, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6, Canada. cairnej@mcmaster.ca.
BMC Public Health
|December 23, 2015
Summary
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are less active, impacting fitness and health. The CATCH study tracks DCD, physical activity, and fitness from early childhood to understand these connections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Disorders
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) exhibit reduced physical activity, termed "activity deficit."
- This inactivity may lead to lower physical fitness, increased overweight/obesity risk, and future cardiovascular issues.
- Previous research, often cross-sectional, limits understanding of the interplay between motor skills, activity, and fitness in DCD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally examine the pathways connecting DCD, physical activity, physical fitness, and body composition.
- To investigate the relationship between motor ability, inactivity, and health-related fitness from early to middle childhood.
- To establish precedence among these factors to inform targeted interventions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 600 children (aged 4-5 years): 300 probable DCD (pDCD) and 300 controls.
- Annual assessments for 4 years, including motor skills, cognitive ability, anthropometry, fitness, body composition, and physical activity (accelerometry).
- Parental questionnaires on demographics, child's activity, behavior, and ADHD index; food diaries and self-efficacy measures included.
Main Results:
- (Study ongoing, results to be published)
Conclusions:
- The CATCH study aims to elucidate the complex relationships between DCD and health-related fitness.
- Findings will inform the development of effective interventions for children with DCD.
- Understanding these pathways is crucial for improving long-term health outcomes in this population.
