title: A longitudinal study of gross motor coordination and weight status in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This longitudinal study investigated the interrelationship between children's weight status and level of gross motor coordination over time, taking baseline physical activity (PA) into account as a possible mediator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline measurements were collected in 2517 children (5-13 years, 52.8% boys), including (1) body height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI) z-scores, (2) gross motor coordination using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), (3) total PA estimated by a questionnaire. At follow-up, 754 participants (7-13 years, 50.8% boys) underwent anthropometric and KTK assessments again. Two hypothesized partial mediation models (i.e., KTK ↔ PA ↔ BMI z-score) were examined by multiple linear mixed models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A lower performance on the KTK at baseline significantly predicted an increase in BMI z-score (B = -0.003, P = 0.027). Conversely, a higher baseline BMI z-score also predicted a decrease in KTK performance (B = -1.792, P < 0.001). Since total PA at baseline was not significantly related to initial KTK performance (B = 1.628, P = 0.134) nor BMI z-score (B = 25.312, P = 0.130), its mediating effect was not further explored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results strongly suggest that children's weight status negatively influences future level of gross motor coordination, and vice versa. Prevention and intervention initiatives should consider this reciprocal causal relationship across developmental time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Hondt
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deforche
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gentier
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verstuyf
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaeyens
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
authors.forename: Renaat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Philippaerts
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenoir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009048:Motor Skills; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires