Comparative analysis of gross motor coordination between overweight/obese and eutrophic children

Abstract Introduction: Overweight and obese children may have lower motor coordination score than normal-weight children. Objective: To compare gross motor coordination between overweight/obese and normal-weight children and investigate the associated factors with the motor coordination scores. Method: This cross-sectional study involved 169 children of both genders, aged 6-9 years. Children with malformations, bone, muscle, and joint or neurological disorders, and BMI z < -2 were excluded. Gross motor coordination was assessed by the “Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder” (KTK). The associated factors with the motor coordination scores were analyzed by linear regression. Results: The mean scores for balancing backwards (84.2 ± 13.2 vs. 91.0 ± 15.0), hopping over on one foot (127.9 ± 10.1 vs. 132.3 ± 12.1), shifting platforms sidewise (123.5 ± 23.4 vs. 129.8 ± 14.9), as well as the overall motor scores (112.5 ± 14.8 vs. 118.8 ± 11.6) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in overweight/obese children when compared to normal-weight children. The percentage of poor motor scores (< 85) in balancing backwards was higher in overweight/obese children (60.4% vs. 36.4%, p = 0.004) and was similar for jumping sideways (18.8% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.116), as well as for shifting platforms sidewise (6.3% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.070). By multiple linear regression analysis, the variables overweight/obesity and sports practice for less than 2 times/week decreased significantly (p < 0.05) the motor coordination score by -18.7 and -15.6 points, respectively. Conclusion: The overweight/obese children scored lower in the motor coordination tests compared to the normal-weight children. Overweight/obesity and low frequency of physical activity were associated with lower scores of gross motor coordination.

摘要 引言：超重与肥胖儿童的粗大运动协调能力（gross motor coordination）得分可能低于正常体重儿童。
研究目的：对比超重/肥胖儿童与正常体重儿童的粗大运动协调能力，并探究与运动协调得分相关的影响因素。
方法：本横断面研究（cross-sectional study）纳入169名6~9岁的男女儿童，排除存在畸形、骨骼、肌肉、关节或神经系统疾病，以及BMI z评分＜-2的儿童。粗大运动协调能力采用儿童身体协调测验（Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder，简称KTK）进行评估，运动协调得分的相关影响因素采用线性回归分析。
结果：与正常体重儿童相比，超重/肥胖儿童的反向平衡得分（84.2±13.2 vs. 91.0±15.0）、单足跳跃得分（127.9±10.1 vs. 132.3±12.1）、侧向移动平台得分（123.5±23.4 vs. 129.8±14.9）以及整体运动得分（112.5±14.8 vs. 118.8±11.6）均显著更低（p＜0.05）。反向平衡测试中得分不良（＜85分）的儿童占比在超重/肥胖组中更高（60.4% vs. 36.4%，p=0.004）；侧向跳跃测试的不良得分占比（18.8% vs. 9.9%，p=0.116）以及侧向移动平台测试的不良得分占比（6.3% vs. 0.8%，p=0.070）则组间无显著差异。经多元线性回归分析，超重/肥胖状态以及每周体育锻炼少于2次这两个变量可显著降低粗大运动协调得分，分别降低18.7分和15.6分（p＜0.05）。
结论：相较于正常体重儿童，超重/肥胖儿童在粗大运动协调测试中的得分更低。超重/肥胖状态以及低频次体力活动均与粗大运动协调得分降低相关。