Weight status is associated with cross-sectional trajectories of motor co-ordination across childhood

Background Research indicates the development of motor co‐ordination (MC) may be an important contributing factor to positive or negative weight trajectories across childhood. Objectives To analyse cross‐sectional associations between MC and weight status in children (boys n = 3344 – girls n = 3281), aged 6–11 years and assess overweight/obese risk across different ages. Methods Body mass index (BMI) was calculated [body mass (kg)/height (m2)]. MC was evaluated using the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder (KTK) and a motor quotient (MQ) was calculated. MQ distribution data were split into tertiles. The effect of age, sex and MQ tertiles on BMI and MC was tested with a factorial anova. A logistic regression also was performed to calculate odd ratios (OR) for being overweight/obese at each age. Results Children with higher MQ demonstrated lower BMI levels (F(2,6224) = 222.09; P < 0.001). Differences in BMI among MQ tertiles became larger across age (F(10,6224) = 4.53; P < 0.001). The OR of being overweight/obese in both sexes within the lowest MQ tertile increased in each age group from 6 to 11 years. Specifically, OR increased from 2.26 to 27.77 and from 1.87 to 6.81 in boys and girls respectively. Conclusions Children with low levels of MC have a higher risk of being overweight/obese and this risk increases with age.