Association between body mass index, physical activity and motor competence in children: moderation analysis by different environmental contexts

• Published in: Annals of human biology Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 417 - 424
• Main Authors: Queiroz, Daniel da Rocha, Aguilar, Javiera Alarcón, Martins Guimarães, Túlio Guilherme, Hardman, Carla Menêses, Lima, Rodrigo Antunes, Duncan, Michael J., Santos, Marcos André Moura dos, de Barros, Mauro Virgílio Gomes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.07.2020; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Body Mass Index; Brazil; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; environment; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; motor skill; Motor Skills; physical activity; Sports; Brazil; environment; motor skill; Child; body mass index; physical activity
• ISSN: 0301-4460; 1464-5033; 1464-5033
• DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2020.1779815

Although the association between body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA) and motor competence (MC) has been widely investigated, the influence of different environmental contexts is not well defined. To analyse the relationship between BMI, PA and MC and the moderating role of the environmental context. A cross-sectional study was performed with 668 children (318 boys) aged 5-7 years (north-eastern district - Brazil). MC (Körper koordination test fur Kinder; KTK), BMI and PA (parent reporting) were assessed. To classify three contexts of the environment a variable was created based on the presence of a sports court in school and/or environment for play or sports practice out of school. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions, interaction test and estimation of coefficients in moderation analysis were used. BMI (β = −2.93; p < .01) and age (β = 19.02; p < .01) were associated, and PA was not associated (β = 0.07; p = .05) with MC. The strength of the association between BMI and MC changed based on the environmental contexts. The better the environment context the weaker the association between BMI and MC (β = −2.93, p < .01 to β = −2.38, p = .33 to β = 0.26, p = .94). The association between BMI and MC is moderated by environmental contexts.