title: The relationship between adolescents' physical activity, fundamental movement skills and weight status.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if a potential relationship among physical activity (PA), fundamental movement skills and weight status exists amongst early adolescent youth. Participants were a sample of 85 students; 54 boys (mean age = 12.94 ± 0.33 years) and 31 girls (mean age = 12.75 ± 0.43 years). Data gathered during physical education class included PA (accelerometry), fundamental movement skills and anthropometric measurements. Standard multiple regression revealed that PA and total fundamental movement skill proficiency scores explained 16.5% (P < 0.001) of the variance in the prediction of body mass index. Chi-square tests for independence further indicated that compared with overweight or obese adolescents, a significantly higher proportion of adolescents classified as normal weight achieved mastery/near-mastery in fundamental movement skills. Results from the current investigation indicate that weight status is an important correlate of fundamental movement skill proficiency during adolescence. Aligned with most recent research, school- and community-based programmes that include developmentally structured learning experiences delivered by specialists can significantly improve fundamental movement skill proficiency in youth.
authors.affiliation: a School of Education, Sports Studies and Physical Education Department , University College Cork , 2 Lucan Place, Western Road, Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: O' Brien
authors.affiliation: b Centre of Preventive Medicine, School of Health and Human Performance , Dublin City University , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Sarahjane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belton
authors.affiliation: b Centre of Preventive Medicine, School of Health and Human Performance , Dublin City University , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Issartel
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D013334:Students
keywords: Adolescent; fundamental movement skill; obesity; physical activity