title: The relationship between motor skills, ADHD symptoms, and childhood body weight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has suggested an important association between motor proficiency and overweight/obesity. Many children with motor difficulties experience ADHD symptoms which have also been linked with overweight/obesity. Previous research has not considered both ADHD and motor performance when investigating their relationship with overweight/obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationships between motor performance, ADHD symptoms, and overweight/obesity in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted involving189 children aged six to 10 years. Symptoms of ADHD were identified using the SNAP-IV rating scale. Motor impairment (MI) was identified using the Movement Battery Assessment for Children-2. Body composition was estimated from the Body Mass Index (BMI) based on World Health Organization child growth standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Balance was the only motor skill associated with BMI even after controlling for gender and ADHD. Group comparisons revealed that the proportion of overweight ADHD children was significantly less than the proportion of overweight control children and overweight MI children; the proportion of underweight ADHD children was significantly greater than the proportion of underweight MI children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results highlight the importance of taking into consideration both ADHD symptoms and motor difficulties in the assessment and intervention of physical health outcomes in children with ADHD and/or movement problems.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Motor Behaviour, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Melo Morais, 65, Cidade Universitaria, 05508-030 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: jugoulardins@usp.br.
authors.forename: Juliana B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Goulardins
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rigoli
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Piek
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: Child Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 647, Jardim Paulista, 05403-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Siméia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Palácio
authors.affiliation: Child Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 647, Jardim Paulista, 05403-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erasmo B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Motor Behaviour, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Melo Morais, 65, Cidade Universitaria, 05508-030 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roseane O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Communication Science & Disorders and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Rua Cipotânea, 51, Cidade Universitaria, 05360-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hasue
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Motor Behaviour, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Melo Morais, 65, Cidade Universitaria, 05508-030 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Children; Motor impairment; Obesity; Overweight