Associations between motor coordination and BMI in normal weight and overweight/obese adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: While evidence suggests that the levels of motor coordination and body mass index (BMI) are positively correlated, little is known about the influence of levels of physical activity on associations between these variables among adolescents. Objective: To analyse the relationships between levels of motor coordination and BMI in normal weight and overweight/obese adolescents, controlling for physical activity levels. Methods: Fifty-six students (50% overweight/obese adolescents), aged 12–14 years old, participated in this study. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder were used in order to assess the levels of physical activity and motor coordination, respectively. Bivariate and partial correlations were used to analyse the interrelationships among motor coordination, BMI and physical activity. The analysis of covariance test was used in order to compare the levels of motor coordination between normal weight and overweight adolescents, considering the physical activity level as a covariate. Results: Weak to moderate negative correlations (p < 0.05) were found between motor coordination and BMI in the sample as a whole, normal weight and overweight/obese groups. However, when controlled for physical activity levels. no significant correlation was observed in the normal weight group. Further, overweight/obese adolescents showed lower levels of motor coordination than their normal weight peers Conclusion: Physical activity levels infl uence the association between levels of motor coordination and BMI in normal weight adolescents, but not in their overweight/obese peers.