Motor competence and cardiorespiratory fitness have greater influence on body fatness than physical activity across time.
We investigated the longitudinal associations among physical activity (PA), motor competence (MC), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), and body fatness across 7 years, and also analyzed the possible mediation effects of PA, MC, and VO2peakon the relationships with body fatness. This was a seven-year longitudinal study with three measuring points (mean ages [in years] and respective sample size: 6.75±0.37, n=696; 9.59±1.07, n=617; 13.35±0.34, n=513). PA (moderate-to-vigorous PA-MVPA and vigorous PA-VPA) was monitored using accelerometers. MC was assessed by the "Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder-KTK" test battery. VO2peakwas evaluated using a continuous running protocol until exhaustion. Body fatness was determined by the sum of four skinfolds. Structural equation modeling was performed to evaluate the longitudinal associations among PA, MC, VO2peak,and body fatness and the potential mediation effects of PA, MC, and VO2peak. All coefficients presented were standardized (z-scores). MC and VO2peakdirectly influenced the development of body fatness, and VO2peakmediated the associations between MVPA, VPA, MC, and body fatness. MC also mediated the associations between MVPA, VPA, and body fatness. In addition, VO2peakhad the largest total association with body fatness (β=-0.431; P<.05), followed by MC (β=-0.369; P<.05) and VPA (β=-0.112; P<.05). As PA, MC, and VO2peakexhibited longitudinal association with body fatness, it seems logical that interventions should strive to promote the development of fitness and MC through developmentally appropriate physical activities, as the synergistic interactions of all three variables impacted body fatness.
CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, Brazil.|Center for Research in Childhood Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7778-2616
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Lima
Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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KA
Pfeiffer
Center for Research in Childhood Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
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Bugge
Center for Research in Childhood Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
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NC
Møller
Faculty of Teacher Education and Sport, Sogn og Fjordane University College, Sogndal, Norway.|Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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Andersen
Department of Physical Education & Athletic Training, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
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Stodden
D056044:Actigraphy; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness
children; health behaviors; longitudinal studies; motor activity; obesity; physical fitness