title: Body mass index, perceived and actual physical competence: the relationship among young children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived physical competence (PPC), actual motor competence (MC) and body mass index (BMI) in young children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed MC (Test of Gross Motor Development - 2nd Edition), PPC (Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance) and BMI (CDC calculator) of 178 young children ages 4-7 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The linear regression model for the overall sample showed that BMI was a better predictor of PPC than MC. Also, obese children had lower PPC, but showed no differences in MC compared with leaner peers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PPC of young obese children was lower than their leaner counterparts, yet their MC was similar. That outcome draws attention to the importance of promoting positive PPC in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Spessato
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabbard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Valentini
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009048:Motor Skills; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012649:Self Concept