Factors associated with motor performance among overweight and nonoverweight Tyrolean primary school children

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

Ewald

Niedermeier

et al. 2018

Self Cite

Background Children with a low socioeconomic status and migration background are more likely to exhibit unfavorable health behavior patterns and higher BMI scores as well as lower physical activity and physical fitness. Aim To evaluate the effect of migration background on the development of physical fitness among primary school children from first to third grade. Methods In this longitudinal study, height, weight, and physical fitness of primary school children from Tyrol/Austria were measured five times over a period of 2.5 years using the German motor performance test DMT 6‐18 consisting of eight items testing different subdomains of physical fitness. Results A total of 266 children (45% girls) participated in all five tests, of which 69 (26%) children reported to have a migration background (MB). Mixed‐model ANOVA did not reveal a significantly different development of physical fitness (according to the mean total Z‐score of DMT 6‐18) over time, P = 0.883, partial ƞ2 < 0.01. However, children with MB showed significantly lower physical fitness compared to children without MB, P < 0.001, partial ƞ2 = 0.06. Controlling for BMI and age did not alter the interpretation of the results. Analyses of the single test items revealed significant differences in motor tests involving strength and endurance. Conclusion Primary school children with and without MB significantly increased their physical fitness over time in a comparable manner. However, children with MB showed a significantly lower physical fitness at all test time points, which was only partly explained by a higher mean BMI in children with MB. Children with MB outreached the mean baseline fitness level of children without MB not until the fourth test time point, that is after two years. Therefore, a special focus on physical fitness particularly including strength and endurance capacities should be directed to children with MB already in young ages.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long‐term effect of migration background on the development of physical fitness among primary school children

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

Ewald

Niedermeier

et al. 2018

Self Cite

“…Jump and reach performance increased by 12% from 1972 to 2015 (F=7.58; total df: 210; p=0.007) (Figure 1) Anderssen, Andersen, Steene-Johannessen, Ekelund, Hansen & Kolle, 2018;Dollman, Norton & Norton, 2005;Sigmundova, El Ansri, Sigmnund & Frömel, 2011). Along with these behavioral changes there has also been an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity (Ahluwalia et al, 2015;Jackson-Leach & Lobstein, 2006;Kelly, Yang, Chen, Reynolds & He, 2008;Moß, Wabitsch, Kromeyer-Hauschild, Reinehr & Kurth, 2007;Reilly, Methven, McDowell, Hacking, Alexander, Stewart & Kelnar, 2003;Pigeot & Walter, 2016;Wang & Lobstein, 2006), which is inversely related with endurance capacity (Graf et al, 2004;Greier, Riechelmann & Burtscher, 2014;Lakoski, Barlow, Farrell, Berry, Morrow & Haskell, 2011;Ruedl, Greier, Kirschner & Kopp, 2016;Starker et al 2007). This is of particular concern, as low cardiorespiratory fitness and excess body weight are risk factors for various chronic diseases (Dietz, 1998;Hurtig-Wennlöf, Ruiz, Harro, & Sjöström, 2007;Stabelini Neto et al 2011).…”

Section: Motor Competence Across Timementioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in motor competence over four decades in 10 to 14-year-old Austrian boys

Greier

Riechelmann²,

et al. 2019

CISS

Self Cite

Background: Data on secular trends in motor competence in children and adolescents has been equivocal. While several studies have shown a decline in motor competence over the last several decades there is also research that showed no change or even an increase in motor competence in youth.Methods: Motor competence was assessed via 6 test items in 10- to 14-year-old Austrian boys in the years 1972, 1987 and 2015. At each measurement time participants performed 20m sprint, 800m run, sit ups, jump and reach, one-leg stand and stand and reach tests in the school gymnasium during regular school time. Data across measurement times was compared using weighted means across 5 age groups with pooled standard deviations.Results: Average performance on the 20m sprint, jump and reach test and one leg stand improved significantly (p<0.05) from 1972 to 2015 by 0.3 seconds, 3.9 cm and 3.5 seconds, respectively. Time for the 800m run increased significantly by 15% (p<0.01), indicating a decline in endurance. Flexibility, measured by the stand and reach test, also declined significantly (p=0.02) from 1972 to 2015. There was no significant difference in the number of sit ups performed at the 3 measurement times. Conclusion: Results of the present study do not show a general decline in motor competence in male middle-school students over the last 4 decades. Rather, secular trends differ by specific components contributing to overall motor competence with declines in flexibility and endurance but increases in power, speed and balance.

Development of physical fitness in Austrian primary school children

Franz

Frühauf

et al. 2018

Wien Klin Wochenschr

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SummaryBackgroundPhysical activity and physical fitness play an important role in the prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence and reduce the risk of becoming overweight or obese in adulthood.AimTo evaluate the development of physical fitness in overweight and non-overweight primary school children from the first to third grades.MethodsUsing a longitudinal study design, body height and weight as well as physical fitness of primary school children from Tyrol, Austria were measured five times during a period of 2.5 years using the German motor performance test (DMT 6–18).ResultsIn total, 266 children (55% boys) with a mean age of 6.4 ± 0.5 years at baseline participated. The proportion of overweight children was 11% at baseline and 22% at the fifth time point. Overweight children showed a significantly lower physical fitness level (mean total z‑score of DMT6–18) at all 5 time points (Hedges g: 0.64–1.09). Repeated measurement analyses of variances showed a significant increase of physical fitness over time among overweight (partial η2: 0.12) and non-overweight (partial η2: 0.29) children. With respect to gender, physical fitness significantly increased over time among overweight (partial η2: 0.20) and non-overweight (partial η2: 0.28) girls, as well as among non-overweight boys (partial η2: 0.31) but not among overweight boys (partial η2: 0.07).ConclusionOverweight and non-overweight primary school children significantly increased their physical fitness over the study period; however, overweight children showed a significantly lower physical fitness level at all test time points and did not even achieve the mean baseline fitness level of non-overweight children. With respect to the increasing percentage of overweight children over the study period, evidence-based preventive measures to reduce overweight and increase physical fitness should be implemented at the earliest in primary schools with a special focus on overweight boys.