High BMI and Low Muscular Fitness Predict Low Motor Competence in School-Aged Children Living in Low-Resourced Areas

Evi Verbecque, Dané Coetzee, Gillian Ferguson and Bouwien Smits-Engelsman
Additional contact information
Evi Verbecque: Rehabilitation Research Centre (REVAL), Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building A, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Dané Coetzee: Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation, Faculty Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Gillian Ferguson: Department of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town University, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
Bouwien Smits-Engelsman: Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation, Faculty Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Childhood obesity is a relatively new problem for Sub-Saharan developing countries. Especially in children with a low socioeconomic background, the link between motor competence, muscular fitness, and body mass index (BMI) remains poorly investigated. Due to the interrelatedness of BMI and physical fitness, the aim of this study is to determine the predictive value of these factors in relation to low motor competence in school-aged children living in low-resourced areas. Motor competence and physical fitness were assessed in 1037 school-aged Ghanaian and South African children using the Performance and Fitness test battery (PERF-FIT). “Low motor competence” was predicted using odds ratios calculated from backward logistic regression analyses. Low motor competence was less prevalent in Ghanaian children (3.7–11.1%) compared to the South African children (21.9–24.2%). Increased BMI and decreased muscular fitness predicted low motor competence in both Ghanaian and South African children. For example, the chance for a Ghanaian child to have low static balance increased by 22.8% (OR = 1.228, p < 0.001) with a 1-point increase in BMI, whereas this decreased by 30.0% (OR = 0.970, p < 0.001) with a 10-cm increase on the standing long jump. In the case of the South African children, if their BMI increased by 1 point, the chance for those children of having low static balance increased by 7.9%, and if their SLJ performance decreased by 10 cm, their chance of low performance increased by 13%. Clearly, motor competence is associated with both BMI and muscular fitness. Policy makers can use this information to counteract the establishment of childhood obesity by promoting weight control through physical activity and stimulating motor competence at school.

Keywords: motor skills; motor competence; muscular fitness; age; socio-economic status; overweight; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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