Correlation between BMI, leisure habits and motor abilities in childhood (CHILT-Project)

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity 2004-01, Vol.28 (1), p.22-26
• Main Authors: Graf, C, Koch, B, Kretschmann-Kandel, E, Falkowski, G, Christ, H, Coburger, S, Lehmacher, W, Bjarnason-Wehrens, B, Platen, P, Tokarski, W, Predel, H G, Dordel, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Body mass index; Cardiology; Care and treatment; Children; Childrens health; Entrance examinations; Epidemiology; Exercise; Gender; Health aspects; Health promotion; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Internal Medicine; Leisure; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Motor ability; Obesity; Obesity in children; Overweight; pediatric-focus; Physical fitness; Prevention; Public Health; Risk factors; Schools
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802428

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing with its negative medical and psychosocial consequences. This paper examines the association between body mass index (BMI), motor abilities and leisure habits of 668 children within the CHILT (Children's Health InterventionaL Trial) project. APPROACH: A total of 668 children (51.0% boys; 49.0% girls) and their parents were questioned on sport and leisure behaviour of the children. The anthropometric data were measured. Motor abilities were determined by a body gross motor development test for children (Köperkoordinationstest für Kinder; KTK) and a 6-min run. RESULTS: The children were 6.70±0.42 y old, 122.72±5.36 cm tall and weighed 24.47±4.59 kg, the average BMI was 16.17±2.27 kg/m 2 . KTK showed an average motor quotient (MQ) of 93.49±15.01, the 6-min run an average of 835.24±110.87 m. Both tests were inversely correlated with BMI (KTK and BMI r =−0.164 ( P