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Relationship Between Fundamental Motor Skill Proficiency and the Development of Overweight and Obesity in Normally
Dong Zhang1, Soh Kim Geok2, Yoke Mun Chan3
1College of Physical Education, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China.
Insights
Children with better fundamental motor skills (FMS) have a lower risk of obesity. This study found a significant negative correlation between FMS proficiency and body mass index (BMI) in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Motor Development
- Obesity Prevention
Background:
- Childhood overweight and obesity present a global health challenge.
- Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are crucial for healthy child development and may reduce obesity risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the correlation between fundamental motor skill proficiency and the development of overweight and obesity in children.
- To synthesize evidence on the relationship between FMS and childhood BMI from 2013 to 2025.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA standards.
- Meta-analysis of 19 studies involving children aged 3-12, examining FMS and weight status.
- Inclusion criteria focused on studies analyzing the relationship between FMS and overweight/obesity.
Main Results:
- A moderate, significant negative correlation was found between overall FMS and BMI (r = -0.314, p < 0.001).
- Small negative correlations were observed for locomotor skills (r = -0.270) and object control skills (r = -0.162) with BMI.
- Children with normal weight demonstrated superior FMS compared to those with obesity.
Conclusions:
- A significant inverse relationship exists between children's FMS and their weight status.
- Lower FMS levels may be a risk factor for developing obesity in children.
- Further longitudinal and intervention studies are recommended to confirm the predictive value of FMS for obesity.
Background:
The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has been recognized as a global challenge and poses a severe threat to the health and development of children. Mastery of fundamental motor skills is suggested to be closely related to reducing the risk of obesity.
Objective:
The objective of this study is to evaluate and provide evidence regarding the correlation between fundamental motor skill proficiency and the development of overweight and obesity during the period from 2013 to 2025.
Methods:
Four databases were surveyed based on the PRISMA standards from January 2013 to April 2025. Studies exploring and analyzing the relationships between fundamental motor skills and overweight or obesity in children aged 3-12 were considered for inclusion.
Results:
Forty-seven articles were included, and a meta-analysis was done on 19 of these selected papers. The analysis revealed a statistically significant moderate correlation between overall FMS and BMI (r = -0.314, 95% confidence interval -0.330 to -0.298, p < 0.001) and small correlations for both locomotor skills (r = -0.270, 95% confidence interval -0.289 to -0.251, p < 0.001) and object control skill (r = -0.162, 95% confidence interval -0.182 to -0.142, p < 0.001) with BMI.
Conclusions:
There is a significant negative correlation between children's fundamental motor skills and weight status, with children of normal weight consistently outperforming children with obesity. Limited longitudinal evidence suggests that lower FMS levels may be associated with a higher risk of obesity. Further longitudinal and intervention research is needed to confirm its predictive value.
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