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Updated: Aug 5, 2025
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Can a Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Treatment Improve Motor Performance in Children with Obesity? Results from an
Francesca Gallè1, Giuliana Valerio1, Espedita Muscariello2
1Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples "Parthenope", Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy.
Insights
Multidisciplinary obesity treatment improved motor skills in children and adolescents, enhancing reaction time and jump performance. These motor skill improvements may support long-term weight management adherence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric obesity research
- Sports medicine and exercise science
- Child development and motor control
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern with potential links to motor skill deficits.
- Understanding the impact of obesity interventions on motor performance is crucial for holistic treatment approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment program on the motor performance of Italian children and adolescents.
- To assess changes in reaction time, jump performance, body composition, and lifestyle factors.
Main Methods:
- A multidisciplinary intervention was implemented for children and adolescents with obesity.
- Evaluated visual and auditory reaction time (VRT, ART), vertical jump elevation (VJE) and power (VJP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body composition, diet, and physical activity (PA) at baseline and 12-month follow-up.
- Analyzed improvements in relation to age, fat-free mass (FFM), BMI-SDS, and PA levels.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), fat-free mass (FFM), dietary habits, and physical activity (PA) levels.
- Adolescents showed enhanced VRT and ART; both children and adolescents improved jump elevation and power.
- Girls demonstrated greater improvements in VRT, ART, and VJP compared to boys.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary obesity treatment positively impacts motor competence in children and adolescents.
- Improvements in motor skills may enhance motivation and long-term adherence to weight management strategies.
- Further research is warranted to explore the bidirectional relationship between motor skill development and obesity treatment outcomes.
Abstract:
In the last two decades, the relationship between weight status and children's motor skill competence has been receiving increasing attention, given its possible role in the prevention and treatment of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment on motor performance in a sample of Italian children and adolescents. Visual and auditory reaction time (VRT and ART), vertical jump elevation (VJE) and power (VJP), body mass index (BMI) and BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), waist circumference (WC), body composition, dietary habits and physical activity (PA) levels were assessed at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Significant improvements were observed in BMI-SDS and FFM, diet and PA levels. Adolescents showed significant improvements in VRT and ART. Jump elevation and power increased in both children and adolescent subgroups. Girls exhibited greater changes than boys in both VRT and ART and VJP but lower changes in VJE. VRT improvement was related to age (OR = 0.285, 95%CI 0.098-0.830, p = 0.021) and FFM (OR = 0.255, 95%CI 0.070-0.933, p = 0.039). An increase in VJE was associated with BMI-SDS (OR = 0.158, 95%CI 0.036-0.695, p = 0.015) and with PA level (OR = 19.102, 95%CI 4.442-82.142, p < 0.001); the increase in VJP was related with the increase in PA (OR = 5.564, 95%CI 1.812-17.081, p = 0.003). These findings suggest the possible effects of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment on children's motor competence. Since the improvement in motor skills can increase children's motivation and adherence to weight loss treatment in the long term, these aspects should be further investigated.
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