The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Development of Gross Motor Skills Within 5 - 7 Years old Children

Background: Obesity in children and adolescents has become a major issue in global health in the 21st century. Previous studies have shown that obese children face substantial adverse short- and long-term health consequences, including asthma, chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, diabetes, numerous orthopedic complications, and more. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the development of gross motor skills in children aged 5 - 7 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged 5 - 7 years in Bojnourd city. The sampling method was multistage. A checklist containing demographic data and BMI of participants was completed. Ulrich's Test of Gross Motor Development (3rd edition) was used to assess gross motor skills in children. Results: The age range of participants was 5 - 7 years. The mean ± standard deviation of age was 6.24 ± 0.82 years, and the mean ± standard deviation weight was 24.8 ± 3.68 kg, with a range of 17.5 - 32.2 kg. There was a significant statistical difference in gross motor skills scores among the three groups: Obese, overweight, and optimal weight (P < 0.0001). There was also a significant difference in gross motor skills scores between the two gender groups (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Higher weight groups had lower motor skills scores. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt appropriate policies for physical activity to reduce the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children.