Differences between Healthy-Weight and Overweight Serbian Preschool Children in Motor and Cognitive Abilities

Boris Banjevic, Dragana Aleksic, Aleksandra Aleksic Veljkovic, Borko Katanic () and Bojan Masanovic
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Boris Banjevic: Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Montenegro, 81400 Niksic, Montenegro
Dragana Aleksic: Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Prishtina, 38218 Leposavic, Serbia
Aleksandra Aleksic Veljkovic: Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
Borko Katanic: Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Nis, 18000 Nis, Serbia
Bojan Masanovic: Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Montenegro, 81400 Niksic, Montenegro

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-7

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the differences between healthy-weight and overweight 5–6-year-old preschool children in fine and gross motor skills and cognitive abilities. There were 91 subjects, preschool children (41 boys and 50 girls), who participated in this cross-sectional study. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on measures of body height and body mass, and WHO cutoff points were used for the assessment of the children’s nutrition status. Fine motor abilities were determined using two Bruininks–Oseretsky (BOT-2) subtests, and gross motor skills are determined by the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2), while cognitive abilities were tested by the School Maturity Test (TZŠ+). Based on an independent-samples t -test, a difference in two out of three variables of gross motor skills was determined: manipulative skills and total gross motor skills between healthy-weight and overweight children, while in fine motor abilities and cognitive abilities there was no difference between these two groups. Although significant differences were found only in gross motor skills between healthy and overweight preschool children but not in fine motor skills and cognitive abilities, further longitudinal studies are required to understand the mechanisms of this, including the possible role of psychological factors.

Keywords: preschoolers; obesity; motor abilities; cognitive functions; BMI; TGMD-2; BOT-2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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