Is Adiposity Associated with the Quality of Movement Patterns in the Mid-Adolescent Period?

This study examined the association between functional movement (FM) and adiposity in adolescent population (16-17 years). This study was conducted in a representative sample of urban adolescents as the part of the CRO-PALS longitudinal study (n = 652). Body mass index (BMI), a sum of four skinfolds (S4S), waist and hip circumference were measured, and FM was assessed via Functional Movement Screen^TM (FMS^TM). Furthermore, total FMS^TM screen was indicator of FM with the composite score ranged from 7 to 21, with higher score indicating better FM. Multilevel analysis was employed to determine the relationship between different predictors and total FMS score. In boys, after controlling for age, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, socioeconomic status, and total FMS score was inversely associated with BMI (β = -0.18, p < 0.0001), S4S (β = -0.04, p < 0.0001), waist circumference (β = -0.08, p < 0.0001), and hip circumference (β = -0.09, p < 0.0001). However, among girls, in adjusted models, total FMS score was inversely associated with S4S (β = -0.03, p < 0.0001), while BMI (β = -0.05, p = 0.23), waist circumference (β = -0.04, p = 0.06), and hip circumference: β = -0.01, p = 0.70) failed to reach statistical significance. Results showed that the association between adiposity and FM in adolescence is sex-specific, suggesting that boys with overweight and obesity could be more prone to develop dysfunctional movement patterns. Therefore, exercise interventions directed toward correcting dysfunctional patterns should be sex-specific, targeting more boys with excess weight rather than adolescent girls with excess weight.