Association Between Motor Competence And Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Overweight In Children

Abstract

It has been observed in last years a decline in motor competence (MC) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CF) levels, followed by an increase in overweight among pediatric population. PURPOSE: To determine the association between MC and CF with overweight in children. METHODS: The sample comprised 262 schoolchildren (136 boys), aged 6-10 years (8.62 ± 1.63 years), from Santo Antônio do Grama and Viçosa cities (Minas Gerais, Brazil). To estimate the MC, the TGMD-2 test battery was used (based on motor quotient values, children were classified as "on average" or "below average"); height and body mass were measured to estimate the body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) (children were classified as "normal weight” or "overweight", based on WHO cut-points); and the CF was estimated by the 6-minute running and walking test (based on the PROESP-BR Battery, children were classified as having "good" or "low" CF). Bivariate analyses were performed between the outcome variable and each independent variable, and the Poisson regression, with robust variance was computed, having MC and CF as predictors of the model, allowing the estimation of the crude prevalence ratios (PR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The mean values of the variables were: MC, 74.67 ± 10.09 points; BMI, 16.92 ± 2.87 kg/m2; CF, 863.28 ± 122.75 m. Results indicated that the both independent variables were associated with overweight (p < 0.05). Furthermore, children classified as “on average” for MC have lower chances to be classified as overweight (PR = -1.24; p = 0.030); on the other hand, children classified as having a "low" CF showed higher chances to be overweight (PR = 1.21; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: So, children with adequate levels of MC tend to present an adequate BMI, while low levels of CF seem to act to increase the chances to have excess weight among pediatric population. The development of health-related physical fitness components are relevant for children health, as well as the development of MC, given that increasing the MC also increases the possibilities to children be engaged in in different physical activities, which can contribute to improve health outcomes.