title: Motor competence and health related physical fitness in youth: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to review the scientific evidence on associations between motor competence (MC) and components of health related physical fitness (HRPF), in children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic search of Academic Search Premier, ERIC, PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, SportDiscus, and Web of Science databases was undertaken between October 2012 and December 2013. Studies examining associations between MC and HRPF components (body weight status, cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal fitness and flexibility) in healthy children and adolescents, published between 1990 and 2013, were included. Risk of bias within studies was assessed using CONSORT and STROBE guidelines. The origin, design, sample, measure of MC, measure of the HRPF, main results and statistics of the studies were analyzed and a narrative synthesis was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four studies matched all criteria; 16 were classified as low risk of bias and 28 as medium risk. There is strong scientific evidence supporting an inverse association between MC and body weight status (27 out of 33 studies) and a positive association between MC and cardiorespiratory fitness (12 out of 12 studies) and musculoskeletal fitness (7 out of 11 studies). The relationship between MC and flexibility was uncertain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the noted associations between various assessments of MC and with multiple aspects of HRPF, the development of MC in childhood may both directly and indirectly augment HRPF and may serve to enhance the development of long-term health outcomes in children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Higher School of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil. Electronic address: mtcattuzzo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cattuzzo
authors.affiliation: Higher School of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Henrique
authors.affiliation: School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities-EACH/USP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandro Hervaldo Nicolai
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ré
authors.affiliation: Higher School of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ilana Santos
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Higher School of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Machado
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Higher School of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Sousa Moura
authors.affiliation: Campus Petrolina, University of Pernambuco, Petrolina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Cappato
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Athletic Training, Blatt Physical Education Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stodden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Adolescent development; Child development; Health behavior; Motor skills; Pediatric obesity; Physical activity