Influence of Body Composition on Physical Literacy in Spanish Children

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a major health challenge in modern societies; therefore, prevention and management policies are needed. This study aims to establish the level of Physical Literacy (PL) in overweight and non-overweight children in Extremadura (Spain), analysing the potential differences between them and exploring their relationships with body composition. Methods: A single-measure cross-sectional study was performed with 135 children, who were taken anthropometric measurements and administered The Canadian Assessment of PL Development (CAPL-2) to assess their level of PL. The CAPL-2 covers four domains and participants to be classified into four levels: beginning, progressing, achieving, and excelling. Statistical analysis included descriptive and correlations. Results: Significant differences between overweight and non-overweight participants were found. Non-overweight participants had higher scores in all the domains included in PL, with the PL level of overweight children mainly being in the two lowest levels. Inverse correlations between body composition variables and PL in all domains (r from −0.223 to −0.507) were found, except for the knowledge domain. Conclusions: Most of the non-overweight children had higher levels of PL than their overweight counterparts. The PL of overweight children was significantly lower compared to non-overweight children. Healthier body composition values were associated with a better PL.

Effects of a Physical Literacy Breaks (PLBreaks) Program on Physical Literacy and Body Composition in Portuguese Schoolchildren: A Study Protocol

“…Regarding level of PL, several studies have provided results in schoolchildren from different countries [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ] based on CAPL-2. Most reported worrying results since more than 50% of the schoolchildren participating in these studies did not achieve sufficient PL [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 58 ].…”

“…A previous study has shown that “motivation and confidence” and “physical competence” domains are the CAPL domains with the strongest correlation [ 60 ]. Specifically, recent studies found that the greater the percentage of schoolchildren in the domain “motivation and confidence”, the greater the percentage for “physical competence” [ 57 , 58 ]. Other studies have shown that physically active students scored higher on autonomous motivation than non-active students [ 61 , 62 ] and that students who satisfied the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness were more likely to participate in PE-related activities for self-determined reasons and were less likely to feel demotivated [ 61 ].…”

“…In contrast, other studies that have evaluated how knowledge of certain pathologies affects subsequent treatment have obtained beneficial results [ 64 , 65 ]. Therefore, due to the worrying results reported by the different studies on low knowledge and understanding in this field [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 58 ], this study could be very beneficial as an increase in the knowledge about PA could translate into an increase in PL since a relationship has also been found between the two [ 60 ].…”

“…Regarding PL and body composition, previous studies have reported a negative correlation between PL and BMI, fat mass [ 20 , 58 ], HRQoL and blood pressure [ 20 ]. Nyström, Traversy, Barnes, Chaput, Longmuir and Tremblay [ 60 ] and Mendoza-Muñoz, Barrios-Fernández, Adsuar, Pastor-Cisneros, Risco-Gil, García-Gordillo and Carlos-Vivas [ 58 ] found that children with a healthy weight scored significantly better on the CAPL than overweight children. Therefore, it can be hypothesised that the development of PL could translate into improved body composition values.…”

Heads-up

“…For example, physically inactive youth are more likely to be overweight (29), and the physical literacy ( i.e. , competence, confidence, and motivation to participate in physical activity) of overweight children tends to be lower than normal weight youth (30). Additionally, overweight youth tend to experience greater parent distress and peer victimization, which are associated with a lower quality of life (31).…”