title: Motor fitness and preschooler children obesity status.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the association between motor fitness (MF) and obesity status in preschool children. The sample comprised 467 children aged 3-6 years. Preschool children body mass index was classiﬁed according to International Obesity Task Force and categorised into three levels, normal, overweight and obesity. Total physical activity was assessed by accelerometer and MF test was assessed through two MF tests 10 × 5m shuttle run test (SRT) and a 7 m jumping distance on 2 feet test (J2F). Low MF was considered for MF if SD above 1. A single variable with three categories was created: low MF medium MF and high MF. The prevalence of normal weight, overweight and obesity was 67.6%, 22.7% and 9.7%, respectively. The prevalence of SD > 1 for SRT was 13.7% and 14.4% for J2F, for single variable was 19.2%. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that obese preschoolers were more likely six times classified as having low MF level than their non-overweight counterparts (OR: 6.4; IC: 1.3-36.6). This study showed a considerable prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschoolers. Obesity has already been associated with lower MF. Further longitudinal studies are needed to conﬁrm this data.
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silva-Santos
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.affiliation: a Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7571-9181
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mota
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Physical fitness; body mass index; motor fitness; preschool children