title: The relationship between motor skill proficiency and body mass index in preschool children.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between motor proficiency and body mass index (B/MI) in preschool children. Thirty-eight children ages 4-6 years had their BMI calculated and were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2; Henderson, Sugden, & Barnett, 2007). These data were analyzed in two ways. The correlation between BMI and MABC-2 percentile ranks was calculated. Next, the groups were subdivided based on BMI status (high, M = 85.5; medium, M = 49.8; low, M = 10.8), and compared using t tests to determine if differences existed in MABC-2 percentile ranks. No significant relationship existed between MABC-2 and BMI percentile ranks (r = -.237). However significant differences in MABC-2 percentile ranks existed between high and low (p = .042), and high and medium (p = .043) groups. These results suggest that preschool children classified as overweight or obese may have lower motor proficiency than their normal weight and under weight peers. This study indicates there is a direct relationship between motor proficiency and BMI in the preschool population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. SWL0003@auburn.edu
authors.forename: Samuel W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scrabis-Fletcher
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Modlesky
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Getchell
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*