title: High risk for obesity in children with a subtype of developmental coordination disorder.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity in typically developing (TD) children, children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and balance problems (DCD-BP), and children with DCD without balance problems (DCD-NBP). Two thousand and fifty-seven children (1095 boys, 962 girls) ages 9-12 years were recruited from 18 elementary schools in Taiwan. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children was used to assess motor coordination ability. International cut-off points for body mass index were used to classify participants into the following groups: normal-weight, overweight or obese. Compared with TD children, children in the DCD-BP group were more than twice as likely to be obese (OR=2.28; 95% CI=1.41-3.68). DCD-BP children were also more likely to be obese compared to DCD-NBP children (OR=1.79; 95% CI=1.02-3.16). Boys in the DCD-BP group were more likely to be obese when compared to DCD-BP girls (OR=3.12; 95% CI=1.28-7.57). Similarly, DCD-NBP boys were more likely to be obese when compared to DCD-NBP girls (OR=2.67; 95% CI=1.21-5.89). Children with both DCD and BP were significantly more likely to be obese when compared to TD and DCD-NBP children. From an intervention perspective, the inclusion of regular physical activity, including activities that encourage development of both balance and energy expenditure, may be required to prevent obesity in this population.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung City 404, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, Departments of Family Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences & Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cairney
authors.affiliation: CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, Departments of Family Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences & Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Yao-Chuen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Wei-Ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Recreation Sport & Health Promotion, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fu-Chen
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Performance, National Taiwan University of Physical Education & Sport, Taichung City 404, Taiwan. Electronic address: skwu@ntupes.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Sheng K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Balance; Children; Developmental coordination disorder; Obesity; Taiwan