Association between executive functions and gross motor skills in overweight/obese and eutrophic preschoolers: cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Preschool age (3–5 years old) is a crucial period for children to acquire gross motor skills and develop executive functions (EFs). However, the association between the qualitative gross motor skills and EFs remains unknown in preschoolers, especially among overweight and obese children. Methods This was a cross-sectional, exploratory, and quantitative study carried out on 49 preschool children, divided into two subgroups according to their body mass index (overweight/obese: 24; eutrophic [normal weight]: 25). The mean age was 4.59 years. More than half of the sample were boys (55%) and most of the mothers had completed high school (67%) and were class C socioeconomic level (63%). Gross motor skills were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2, while EFs were evaluated using Semantic verbal fluency (SVF), Tower of Hanoi (TH), Day/Night Stroop, and Delayed Gratification tests. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, maternal education, socioeconomic status, quality of the home environment, and quality of the school environment using the stepwise method were executed, considering the cognitive tasks as independent variables and gross motor skills as dependent variable. Results The overweight/obese preschoolers showed worse locomotor skills than their eutrophic peers and below average gross motor quotient (GMQ). Overweight/obese girls performed worse in OC skills than boys with excess weight. SVF (number of errors) and TH (rule breaks) explained 57.8% of the variance in object control (OC) skills and 40.5% of the variance in GMQ (p < .05) in the overweight/obese children. Surprisingly, there was no significant association between any of the EF tasks and gross motor skills in the eutrophic children. Conclusion A relationship between EF tasks (number of errors in SVF and rule breaks in TH) and gross motor skills (OC and GMQ) was demonstrated in the overweight/obese preschoolers, indicating that worse cognitive flexibility, working memory, planning, and problem solving are associated with worse gross motor skills in this population when compared to eutrophic children.

Gray matter volume alterations in subjects with overweight and obesity: Evidence from a voxel-based meta-analysis

“…The recent studies have suggested that the relationship between motor control and obesity may be influenced by participants’ habits such as eating style ( 57 ) and preferences ( 58 ). Obese subjects took less time to plan the movement and more time to perform the movement in the face of more preferred food, and with worse motor control compared with lean subjects ( 59 ). The areas in PCG forming the sensorimotor networks (SMN) were understood to integrate information with the executive functions, perception, and somesthesis ( 60 ).…”

Keterampilan Motorik Kasar Anak Prasekolah: Analisis Program Intervensi Motorik

“…Banyak manfaat kesehatan yang dapat dicapai dengan meningkatkan keterampilan motorik. Motorik yang berkembang dengan baik mempengaruhi kesiapan kardiorespirasi dan berat badan yang menunjukkan fakta bahwa pengembangan keterampilan motorik dapat memiliki manfaat kesehatan yang penting (Fernandes et al, 2022;Ha et al, 2021;Maïano et al, 2019). Kompetensi keterampilan motorik dasar meningkat lebih banyak di usia prasekolah.…”

Relationships between physical activity, fundamental motor skills, and body mass index in preschool children

“…Nutrition and Chronic Diseases in China Report (2020) showed that the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among children under 6 years of age in China is 10% ( 3 ), which has drawn significant attention from national authorities ( 4 ). Obesity can lead to abnormal growth and development, low immunity, breathing difficulties, psychological problems, social difficulties, etc., and a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic abnormalities, and metabolic syndrome in adulthood ( 5 ). Moreover, it should be noted that overweight and obesity can have adverse effects on the postural status of children ( 6 , 7 ).…”