BACKGROUND: Fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency is positively associated with physical activity and fitness levels. The objective of this study was to systematically review evidence for the benefits of FMS interventions targeting youth. METHODS:A search with no date restrictions was conducted across 7 databases. Studies included any school-, home-, or community-based intervention for typically developing youth with clear intent to improve FMS proficiency and that reported statistical analysis of FMS competence at both preintervention and at least 1 other postintervention time point. Study designs included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using experimental and quasi-experimental designs and single group pre-post trials. Risk of bias was independently assessed by 2 reviewers.RESULTS: Twenty-two articles (6 RCTs, 13 quasi-experimental trials, 3 pre-post trials) describing 19 interventions were included. All but 1 intervention were evaluated in primary/elementary schools. All studies reported significant intervention effects for $1 FMS. Metaanalyses revealed large effect sizes for overall gross motor proficiency (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-2.16, Z = 3.77, P , .0002) and locomotor skill competency (SMD = 1.42, 95% CI 0.56-2.27, Z = 3.25, P = .001). A medium effect size for object control skill competency was observed (SMD = 0.63, 95% CI 0.28-0.98, Z = 3.53, P = .0004). Many studies scored poorly for risk of bias items.

This study suggests a weight-loss goal of 5-10% be recommended to assist in the clinical management of overweight and obese adults with asthma. The obese-asthma phenotype may involve both innate and allergic inflammatory pathways.

Obesity and asthma are associated, but the mechanism(s) of the association have yet to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess airway inflammation in relation to obesity and plasma fatty acids in males and females with and without asthma.Obese (n568) and nonobese (n547) adults with asthma, and obese (n516) and nonobese (n563) healthy controls had induced sputum and venous blood samples analysed for inflammatory markers.There was a positive interaction between obesity and asthma on sputum neutrophil percentage (p50.012) and C-reactive protein level (p50.003). Although sputum eosinophil percentage was elevated in asthma (p50.001), there was no effect of obesity (p50.16). Sputum neutrophil percentage was positively associated with body mass index in females with asthma (b51.015, 95% CI 0.258-1.772; p50.009) and neutrophilic asthma was present in a greater proportion of obese compared with non-obese females (42.9% versus 16.2%; p50.017). In males with asthma, sputum neutrophil percentage was positively associated with total plasma saturated fatty acids (b50.108, 95% CI 0.036-0.180; p50.004) and negatively with monounsaturated fatty acids (b5 -0.068, 95% CI -0.131--0.005; p50.035).This was the first study to demonstrate an increase in neutrophilic airway inflammation in obese asthma. This relationship was significant only in females with asthma. In males, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were important predictors of neutrophilic airway inflammation in asthma.