title: The Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study: rationale and design.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Past studies have found that children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) engage in less physical activity than typically developing children. This "activity deficit" may result in children with DCD being less physically fit and more likely to be overweight or obese, potentially increasing later risk for poor cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, the majority of DCD research has been limited to cross-sectional designs, leading to questions about the complex relationship among motor ability, inactivity and health-related fitness. Of the few longitudinal studies on the topic, determining precedence amongst these factors is difficult because study cohorts typically focus on mid to late childhood. By this age, both decreased physical fitness and obesity are often established. The Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study will examine the pathways connecting DCD, physical activity, physical fitness, and body composition from early to middle childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CATCH study is a prospective cohort study. We aim to recruit a cohort of 600 children aged 4 to 5 years (300 probable DCD [pDCD] and 300 controls) and test them once a year for 4 years. At Phase 1 of baseline testing, we assess motor skills, cognitive ability (IQ), basic anthropometry, flexibility and lower body muscle strength, while parents complete an interview and questionnaires regarding family demographics, their child's physical activity, and behavioural characteristics. Children who move on to Phase 2 (longitudinal cohort) have their body fat percentage, foot structure, aerobic and anaerobic fitness assessed. An accelerometer to measure physical activity is then given to the child and interested family members. The family also receives an accelerometer logbook and 3-day food dairy. At years 2 to 4, children in the longitudinal cohort will have all baseline assessments repeated (excluding the IQ test), and complete an additional measure of perceived self-efficacy. Parents will complete an ADHD index twice within the follow-up period. To assess the association between DCD, fitness and adiposity, our primary analysis will involve longitudinal growth models with fixed effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CATCH study will provide a clearer understanding of pathways between DCD and health-related fitness necessary to determine the types of interventions children with DCD require.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 5th Floor, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6, Canada. cairnej@mcmaster.ca.|Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. cairnej@mcmaster.ca.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. cairnej@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cairney
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Science and CanChild, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. missiuna@mcmaster.ca.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. missiuna@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Missiuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. timmonbw@mcmaster.ca.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. timmonbw@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Timmons
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 5th Floor, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6, Canada. rodrigmc@mcmaster.ca.|Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. rodrigmc@mcmaster.ca.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. rodrigmc@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 5th Floor, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6, Canada. scott.r.veldhuizen@gmail.com.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. scott.r.veldhuizen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veldhuizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. kingds@mcmaster.ca.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. kingds@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: King-Dowling
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 5th Floor, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6, Canada. wellman@mcmaster.ca.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. wellman@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wellman
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 5th Floor, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6, Canada. tuyenle@mcmaster.ca.|INfant and Child Health (INCH) Lab, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, L8P 1H6, Canada. tuyenle@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Tuyen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight; D010465:Perception; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design