Association between body mass index, physical activity and motor competence in children: moderation analysis by different environmental contexts

Abstract

This document is the author's post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version mayremain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it. Title: Association between body mass index, physical activity and motor competence in children: Moderation analysis by different environmental contexts. Background: Although the association between body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), and motor competence (MC) has been widely investigated, the influence of different environmental contexts is not well defined. Aim: To analyze the relationship between BMI, PA, and MC and the moderating role of the environmental context. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 668 children (318 boys) aged 5 to 7 years (north-eastern district -Brazil). MC (KTK), BMI, and PA (parents reporting) were assessed. To classify three contexts of the environment a variable was created based on the presence of a sports court in school and/or environment for play or sports practice out of school. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions, interaction test and estimation of coefficients in moderation analysis were used. Results: BMI (β= -2.93; p<.01) and age (β= 19.02; p<.01) were associated, and PA was not associated (β= 0.07; p=0.09) with MC. The strength of the association between BMI and MC changed based on the environmental contexts. The better the environment context the weaker the association between BMI and MC (β= -2.93, p<.01 to β= -2.38, p=0.37 to β= 0.26, p=0.94). Conclusion: The association between BMI and MC is moderated by environmental contexts.

Children's Physical Self-Concept, Motivation, and Physical Performance: Does Physical Self-Concept or Motivation Play a Mediating Role?

“…However, results of this study also yielded a slightly negative regression path of extrinsic motivation on physical performance, indicating that extrinsic motivation is rather detrimental for children's physical performance. In addition, girls and children with a higher BMI had a significantly lower physical self-concept and a lower total performance score than boys and children with a lower BMI, as also earlier shown in previous studies (e.g., Deaner et al, 2016;Ferreira et al, 2019;Queiroz et al, 2020). By implication, girls and children with a higher BMI are at risk and should be supported in physical activities by, for instance, specific physical tests related to their individual motor skills to sustainably motivate them to more physical activities and a healthier lifestyle.…”

“…Interventions targeted at improving younger children's physical performance should thus establish conditions to promote children's physical selfconcept and intrinsic motivation by means of adapting the level of motor skill tests to children's individual physical abilities, providing positive feedback to their physical performance, and enhancing their individual progress (Deci and Ryan, 2002). This may be of particular importance for girls and children with a higher BMI who showed a much lower physical self-concept and poorer physical performance in this study and many other studies (e.g., Morano et al, 2011;Zsakai et al, 2017;Ferreira et al, 2019;Queiroz et al, 2020).…”

Poor Motor Competence Affects Functional Capacities and Healthcare in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

“…[ 68 , 69 , 70 ]. In addition, Barnett et al [ 71 ] suggested that variables such as age, gender, and weight status affect MC, while Queiroz et al [ 72 ] found a positive modulation and improvement of motor skills (in addition to body mass index (BMI)) in the youth who had higher access to PA thanks to improved environmental contexts, sports facilities, or sports clubs. The current results underline the relation between PA practice and central nervous system development [ 73 ], in this context, MC evaluation acts as an indirect healthy growth indicator [ 71 ].…”

Gross motor coordination and their relationship with body mass and physical activity level during growth in Children aged 8–11 years old: a longitudinal and allometric approach

“… Barnett et al (2016) suggesting that variables such as age, sex and weight status affect GMC while Queiroz et al (2020) found a positive modulation and improvements of GCM (in addition to body mass index (BMI)) in young belonging to a family with a high socio-economic-status family that permit higher possibilities to access in environmental contexts, sports facilities or sports clubs. These results underline the connection between motor practice and central nervous system development ( Davids, Button & Bennett, 2008 ) where the evaluation of GMC is often used as an indirect measure of healthy development ( Barnett et al, 2016 ).…”