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How Does the Relationship Between Motor Skill Performance and Body Mass Index Impact Physical Activity in Preschool
Haixia Guo1, Michaela A Schenkelberg2, Jennifer R O'Neill2
11 Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology.
Insights
Motor skill performance in preschoolers is linked to physical activity levels. However, a child's weight status, specifically their body mass index (BMI) z-score, influences this relationship, impacting activity engagement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Motor Development
- Physical Activity Research
Background:
- Motor skill (MS) performance is crucial for children's development and physical activity (PA) engagement.
- Understanding factors that influence the MS-PA relationship is essential for targeted interventions.
- Weight status, indicated by body mass index (BMI) z-score, may play a modifying role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether weight status modifies the association between motor skill performance and physical activity in preschoolers.
- To explore the interplay between BMI z-score, different types of motor skills, and physical activity levels.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 227 preschoolers (aged 3-5 years) from 22 preschools participated.
- Motor skills (locomotor, object control, total) were assessed using a standardized protocol.
- Physical activity was objectively measured via accelerometry, and data were analyzed using mixed linear models, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between overall motor skill performance and physical activity (r = .14-.17, P < .05).
- A significant interaction effect was observed between BMI z-score and object control skills on PA (P = .03).
- Higher BMI z-scores combined with high object control or total MS scores were associated with significantly more time spent in physical activity.
Conclusions:
- Motor skill performance is positively associated with physical activity in preschoolers.
- Body mass index z-score acts as a significant moderator in the relationship between motor skill performance and physical activity.
- These findings highlight the complex interplay between motor skills, weight status, and physical activity in early childhood.
Purpose:
To determine if weight status modifies the relationship between motor skill (MS) performance and physical activity (PA) in preschoolers.
Methods:
Preschoolers (N = 227, age 3-5 y) were recruited from 22 preschools. Preschoolers' MS (locomotor, object control, and total MS) were assessed with the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study MS protocol. PA was measured by accelerometry. Mixed linear models were used to examine the relationship of MS performance and body mass index (BMI) z score to PA. Models were adjusted for age, race, sex, and parent education, with preschool as a random effect.
Results:
There was a significant correlation between MS performance and PA (r = .14-.17, P < .05). A significant interaction was observed between BMI z score and object control, and between BMI z score and total MS score on PA (P = .03). Preschoolers with higher BMI z scores and high object control scores engaged in significantly (P = .03) more PA than preschoolers with lower BMI z scores and high object control scores (PA = 15.04 min/h and 13.54 min/h, respectively). Similarly, preschoolers with higher BMI z scores and high total MS scores spent significantly (P = .01) more time in PA compared with those with lower BMI z scores and high total MS scores (PA = 15.65 min/h and 13.91 min/h, respectively).
Conclusion:
Preschool children's MS performance is positively correlated with PA, and BMI z score modified the relationship between MS performance and PA.