Fundamental movement skill proficiency and body composition measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in eight-year-old children

Abstract

Objective: The main aim was to examine the association between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and objectively measured body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: A study of 304 eight-year-old children in Finland. FMS were assessed with the Test of gross motor development, 2nd ed. Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal region fat percentage (AF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by DXA. Waist circumference, height and weight were measured, and International Obesity Task Force cut-off values for body mass index were used for the definition of healthy weight and overweight/obesity. Results: Better FMS proficiency (object control, locomotor and total FMS) was significantly and strongly associated with lower BF% and lower AF% measured with DXA. Conclusions: The inverse association between FMS and body composition measured with DXA (BF% and AF%) is an important finding, as body fatness and specifically abdominal fatness are associated with less favourable cardiovascular risk factor status in children.

Keywords:

• body composition
• fundamental movement skills
• DXA
• motor skills
• obesity
• overweight

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the participant children and their families. This study was supported by the University of Jyväskylä, the Juho Vainio Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland.

Notes on contributors

Sari Slotte is a PhD student and a researcher in Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and her research interests are on childhood obesity, fundamental movement skills and health-related fitness. She is also a physical education and health sciences lecturer at the University of Helsinki.

Arja Sääkslahti holds a Doctoral degree in Sport Sciences. She is a senior departmental researcher at the University of Jyväskylä, Department of Sport Sciences. Most of her publications deal with preschool-aged children's physical activities, fundamental motor skill development and children's health. She has also published physical education curriculums for preschools and primary schools.

Jari Metsämuuronen (PhD, Adjunct Professor) is one of the leading methodological experts in Finland. He has popularised research methodology in 13 volumes of the Methodology series. The Handbook of Practical Qualitative Research (in Finnish) was published in 2006. His largest book, Basics of Research Methods in Human Sciences, will be published in English by SAGE in 2015. He has served as an international consultant in Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ethiopia, Palestine and Nepal. From 1998 onwards he has been a senior methodologist in the student assessment unit on the Finnish National Board of Education.

Pauli Rintala is Professor of Adapted Physical Activity at the University of Jyväskylä, Department of Sport Sciences. His research interests are on individuals with special needs, their motor skills and fitness issues and physical activity. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and edited and written several textbooks in Adapted Physical Activity.