Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance
Abstract Childhood obesity is a public health problem that affects many parts of the world, and is one of the factors that has negatively influenced levels of motor competence at an early age. However, these relationships remain poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess body compositi...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05792-5 |
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| author | Miguel Rebelo Samuel Honório António Pais Jorge Santos Paulo Afonso Catarina Marques Afonso Diniz João Serrano |
| author_facet | Miguel Rebelo Samuel Honório António Pais Jorge Santos Paulo Afonso Catarina Marques Afonso Diniz João Serrano |
| author_sort | Miguel Rebelo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Childhood obesity is a public health problem that affects many parts of the world, and is one of the factors that has negatively influenced levels of motor competence at an early age. However, these relationships remain poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess body composition (BC) and motor competence (MC), as well as to study their relationship with school performance in primary school children in Portugal. A quantitative study was carried out with a sample of 272 children aged between 6 and 10 years old, divided into 4 years of schooling. The Motor Competence Assessment was used to assess motor competence (MC) and a bioimpedance scale (InBody) was used to assess body composition (BC). The results showed that, with the exception of 1st year, all the children were overweight and this worsened as the school year progressed. As for motor competence, it increases as the children grow, but at low levels for their age, with only the 3rd and 4th years showing a relationship between MC and BC. The results also showed a positive relationship between academic achievement and MC only in the 4th year of schooling. These results highlight the need for intervention in primary schools to combat childhood obesity and motor illiteracy, as well as demonstrating that the better children’s MC, the better their school performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9ea6a1423a5f40cda2a07f7e81c5e244 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-9ea6a1423a5f40cda2a07f7e81c5e2442025-08-20T03:16:51ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-05-012511610.1186/s12887-025-05792-5Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performanceMiguel Rebelo0Samuel Honório1António Pais2Jorge Santos3Paulo Afonso4Catarina Marques5Afonso Diniz6João Serrano7Department of Sports and Well-being - Polytechnic Institute of Castelo BrancoDepartment of Sports and Well-being - Polytechnic Institute of Castelo BrancoTECHN&ART, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo BrancoDepartment of Sports and Well-being - Polytechnic Institute of Castelo BrancoSPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation CenterDepartment of Sports and Well-being - Polytechnic Institute of Castelo BrancoDepartment of Sports and Well-being - Polytechnic Institute of Castelo BrancoDepartment of Sports and Well-being - Polytechnic Institute of Castelo BrancoAbstract Childhood obesity is a public health problem that affects many parts of the world, and is one of the factors that has negatively influenced levels of motor competence at an early age. However, these relationships remain poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess body composition (BC) and motor competence (MC), as well as to study their relationship with school performance in primary school children in Portugal. A quantitative study was carried out with a sample of 272 children aged between 6 and 10 years old, divided into 4 years of schooling. The Motor Competence Assessment was used to assess motor competence (MC) and a bioimpedance scale (InBody) was used to assess body composition (BC). The results showed that, with the exception of 1st year, all the children were overweight and this worsened as the school year progressed. As for motor competence, it increases as the children grow, but at low levels for their age, with only the 3rd and 4th years showing a relationship between MC and BC. The results also showed a positive relationship between academic achievement and MC only in the 4th year of schooling. These results highlight the need for intervention in primary schools to combat childhood obesity and motor illiteracy, as well as demonstrating that the better children’s MC, the better their school performance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05792-5Motor competencePhysical activityChild motor developmentBody compositionSchool performanceChild obesity |
| spellingShingle | Miguel Rebelo Samuel Honório António Pais Jorge Santos Paulo Afonso Catarina Marques Afonso Diniz João Serrano Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance BMC Pediatrics Motor competence Physical activity Child motor development Body composition School performance Child obesity |
| title | Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance |
| title_full | Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance |
| title_fullStr | Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance |
| title_short | Study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance |
| title_sort | study of body composition and motor competence in children from the 1st basic cycle and their relationship with school performance |
| topic | Motor competence Physical activity Child motor development Body composition School performance Child obesity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05792-5 |
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