Relation Between Body Composition and Motor Abilities of Children up to 7 Years of Age

Abstract

SUMMARY:In a sample of 125 respondents, 62 boys and 63 girls, who attended the first grade of primary schools in Subotica with average age of 7.39 decimal years, a measurement of basic anthropometric characteristics was performed, general motor skills were determined based on seven motor tests, and body composition was determined using the In Body 230 device. Regression analysis showed that the predictor system of variables for assessing body composition (amount of body fat, the total amount of water and the total amount of muscles) was statistically significantly associated with the criterion defined as general motor factor and with it describes 39% of common variability in boys (R=0.63; p<0.05) and 34% in girls (R=0.58; p<0.05). Standardized regression coefficient indicated that both for boys and girls aged 7.39 decimal years, statistically, the total amount of body fat, body weight, negatively affect general motor skills and for the girls, statistically, body height has a positive effect.

The Effects of Specific Exercise Program on Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Abilities of Preschool Children

“…Motor skills of children, youth and people are affected by different structural features that define them as a bio-psycho-social-integrated being (Lepes et al, 2014). Preschool age is the most important period in the formation of the whole personality of man, because learning a variety of modifications and adjustments to various situations in life comes later (Bala, 2002).…”

Effects of Programmed Fitness Exercise on Body Composition Among Pre-School Children

“…Also, programmed activities 30 minutes long performed on a daily basis with professors of physical education affected anthropometric dimensions of pre-school children, such as: body height, body mass, legs length, arm's length, foot length, head volume, average head volume, average chest volume, shoulders width, heaps width, pelvic width, palm with fingers length, wrist diameter, forearm volume, back skinfold, arm skinfold, and abdominal skinfold (Markov & Mesaroš-Živkov, 2010). Besides, the research results of Lepeš, Halaši, Mandarić, & Tanović (2014) obtained from a sample of 125 seven-year-old children showed that the variable predictor system for the evaluation of body composition (total quantity of grease, water and muscle) is statistically significantly connected with criteria defined as a general motor factor with 39% of common variability with boys and 34% with girls. The standardised regression coefficient illustrates for boys and for girls that the total value of fat in the body and body weight negatively affects general motor skills; and body height with girls has a positive effect.…”

Relationship between Body Composition and Gross Motor Coordination in Six-Year-Old Boys and Girls

“…Unfortunately, although weight-related studies in adults commonly use body composition assessment, it is still an evolving field, particularly in children [16]. Only Lepes et al [18] and Webster et al [13] evaluated MC and some of the body composition measures in preschool boys and girls. Webster et al [13] investigated the relationship between fundamental motor skills (locomotor and object control skills) and body composition (fat mass and percent, as well as fat-free mass) in 3-10-year-old children.…”

“…They found that the 23% of variance in locomotor skills (i.e., run, gallop, hop, leap, jump, and slide) may be explained by the body composition measures, although only fat-free mass contributed significantly to the regression model. Lepes et al [18] noted that a level of MC (evaluated by the backward movement test) strongly predicts performance in various fitness tests (for static and dynamic strength, as well as for agility), and that "general motor fitness" (expressed as the summed performance of MC, strength, agility, and flexibility tests) moderately (r = 0.47-0.57) correlate with the percent of body fat. Considering the above, it seems that body composition assessment may shed a light on the relationship between weight status and MC in preschool children.…”

“…Considering the above, it seems that body composition assessment may shed a light on the relationship between weight status and MC in preschool children. Unfortunately, the abovementioned studies [13,18] utilized motor test batteries which did not exclusively address MC and rather included several assessments of physical fitness [19]; thus, the relationship between MC and body composition in the preschool population cannot be defined.…”