Aspects of motor development and quality of life in the context of child obesity

Abstract

Introduction: Child development is a period of progressive and complex transformations related to growth, maturation, learning, motor skills, and psychosocial issues. Objective: Analyze the influence of obesity on the aspects of motor development and quality of life of children aged three to eight years, and and their mothers’ levels of anxiety and depression. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive and quantitative approach study with children enrolled and attended at a pediatric endocrinology in Fortaleza, CE, in the period between June and November 2017. The study sample consisted of 24 children from three to eight years of age. We used the anthropometric quantification, the Motor Development Scale, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) for children. We applied the Beck anxiety and depression questionnaires for mothers. Results: 16 were female, and 17 were severely obese. Most of the sample showed motor development changes 42,85% classified as “inferior” in the obesity category, and 41.17% in the severely obese category. Both groups revealed”complete right-handed” and “undefined” laterality in around 40% of the individuals. The quality of life had a low mean score. The majority of mothers from both groups presented minimal anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Obesity interferes negatively with the overall motor development, determination of laterality, and quality of life of children, perceiving more severe levels of anxiety and depression in mothers of children severely obesity.

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