Table 3.
Association of body mass index (BMI) z-score and obesity with motor skills
| Boys | Girls | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMI z-score | Obesity | BMI z-score | Obesity | |
| 4 years of age | ||||
| Gross motor skill | ||||
| Balance at least 10 sec. | ||||
| Right foot | -0.07 | 0.84 | -0.05 | 0.92 |
| Left foot | -0.04 | 0.94 | -0.05 | 0.77** |
| Hop 5 times | ||||
| Right foot | -0.06 | 0.83** | -0.03 | 0.91 |
| Left foot | -0.07* | 0.80** | -0.08 | 0.83** |
| Jump distance (inches) | -0.40 | -1.04 | -0.46* | -1.69** |
| Skip at least 8 steps | -0.01 | 0.84 | 0.04 | 1.03 |
| Walk backwards 6 steps on line | -0.01 | 0.91 | -0.05 | 0.93 |
| Bean bag catch (at least 5 caught) | 0.03 | 1.14 | 0.08* | 1.32** |
| Fine motor skill | ||||
| Blocks (gate & tower) | ||||
| Passed one | 0.002 | 1.00 | 0.04 | 1.03 |
| Full passed | -0.003 | 0.99 | 0.04 | 0.94 |
| Copy form | -0.02 | -0.10 | -0.02 | 0.00 |
| 5-6 years of age | ||||
| Gross motor skill | ||||
| Balance at least 10 sec. | ||||
| Right foot | -0.02 | 0.94 | -0.01 | 1.02 |
| Left foot | 0.05 | 0.99 | -0.09* | 0.98 |
| Hop 5 times | ||||
| Right foot | -0.12* | 0.92* | -0.08 | 0.96 |
| Left foot | -0.05 | 0.89** | -0.15** | 0.93* |
| Jump distance (inches) | -0.15 | -1.07 | -0.47* | -1.58** |
| Skip at least 8 steps | 0.07 | 0.99 | -0.04 | 0.97 |
| Walk backwards 6 steps on line | 0.04 | 0.92 | -0.08* | 0.91 |
| Bean bag catch (at least 5 caught) | 0.07 | 1.06 | -0.01 | 0.98 |
| Fine motor skill | ||||
| Blocks (gate) | 0.06 | 0.97 | 0.04 | 1.06 |
| Copy form | 0.04 | 0.05 | -0.01 | -0.03 |
Values are regression coefficients for BMI z-score and ratio of probabilities for passing a test in obese children out of normal-weight children. All analyses are adjusted for covariates and take into account weights and sampling design. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01