The motor proficiency of obese 8-11 year old children - Potgieter, Carolina Frederika (University of the Free State, 2005)
A rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity in children has been seen around the world. There was a 60% increase in the prevalence of being overweight and a 70% increase in the prevalence of obesity between 1989 and 1998 (Ogden et al., 1997:1, Reilly et al., 1999:1039, Martorell et al., 2000:959). What’s more, motor abilities can be influenced by excess weight from a very early age. Groups of normal weight and obese babies were compared, and a delayed gross motor development was found in the obese. A significant correlation was found between excessive weight and gross motor delay. Over the following year, both weight and motor development reverted to normal in the majority of infants (Jaffe & Kosakov, 1982:619). Parizkova (1996) found that the potential deteriorating effect of excess fat on dynamic performance increases with age and the longer the duration of obesity. This researcher discovered that in preschool children, the effect of increased weight and body mass index is only apparent in some areas, such as broad jump and the 20 meter dash, and much less so in other measured variables. The significant effect of increased weight and fat is most marked during puberty. From the above mentioned statistics and research, the question is raised on whether obesity has an influence on the motor proficiency of 8-11 year old children. The first goal of the study was to identify 30 children with obesity (age 8-11) and 30 non-obese children (age 8-11) to form the control group. Body mass index was used as criterium to determine obesity. Boys with a body mass index of 18- 21kg/m2 and girls with a body mass index of 18-22 kg/m2 were identified as obese, while the control group all had a body mass index of less than 18kg/m2. Fat percentage was determined using the Heath and Carter method (skinfolds of the triceps, sub-scapula, para-umbilicus, supra-iliac, medial thigh and medial calf) (Heath and Carter, 1969:57). Furthermore, somatotyping has been used for the estimation of body composition. Somatotyping of an individual is expressed by a three digit evaluation comprising three consecutive numbers (rated from lowest to highest, 1-7) and always listed in the same order. Each number represents the evaluation of a basic component, endomorphy (relating to relative adipose), mesomorphy (relating to skeletal muscle development), and ectomorphy (relating to the relative linearity of the body). There after, the obese (n=30) and non-obese (n=30) children, age 8-11, were evaluated with the Bruininks-Oseretsky test (Bruininks, 1978) to determine their motor proficiency. The Bruiniks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency is an individually administered test that assesses the motor functioning of children from 4½ to 14½ years of age. The complete battery – eight subtests (Running Speed and Agility, Balance, Bilateral Coordination, Strength, Upper Limb Speed, Response Speed, Visual Motor Control and Upper Limb Coordination and Dexterity) comprised of 46 separate items – provides a comprehensive index of motor proficiency as well as separate measures of both gross and fine motor skills. The Short Form – 14 items from the Complete Battery – provides a brief survey of general motor proficiency (Bruininks, 1978:11). The data was analyzed by means of the t-test. This test was used because it is the most commonly used method to evaluate the differences in means between two groups. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in any age group (8, 9, 10 or 11) between the motor proficiency of obese versus non-obese children. This is in contrast with the hypothesis that states that there will be a significant difference between the motor proficiency of obese versus non-obese children. Although the study can conclude that there was no major difference between the two groups, obesity remains a concern. The prevalence of this epidemic is rising year after year and it is therefore recommended that obesity should be prevented as far as possible and that those who suffer from obesity should be treated as soon as they are diagnosed with obesity. Treatment of obesity is most successful if realistic goals are set; a balanced diet is emphasized; a safe rate of weight loss of about 0.5 kg a week is achieved through moderate reduction of energy intake (about 20-25% decrease); increased physical activity is emphasized as much as diet; parental support is strong and behavior therapy is provided to help both child and parents achieve the diet, exercise and behavior goals (Frühbeck, 2000:328). Another concern is that the motor proficiency of children between 8 and 11 years is not what it is suppose to be. Both the obese and non-obese group had a low score of motor proficiency, which means that they were probably never exposed to appropriate motor development in their early childhood years. It is therefore recommended that more attention be given to early motor development to help children improve their motor proficiency which is essential for the performance of specialized movements in later childhood and adolescence. Motor development programs may be implemented in pre-school and primary schools as part of the curriculum.

’n Vinnige toename in die voorkoms van vetsug by kinders word regoor die wêreld waargeneem. Daar was ’n 60%-toename in die voorkoms van die oorgewigtoestand en ’n 70%-toename in die voorkoms van vetsug tussen 1989 en 1998 (Ogden et al., 1997, Reilly et al., 1999:1039, Martorell et al., 2000:959). Wat meer is, motoriese vermoëns kan reeds van ’n baie vroeë ouderdom deur ’n oormaat gewig beïnvloed word. Groepe babas van normale gewig en vet babas is vergelyk en vertraagde groot motoriese ontwikkeling is by die vetsugtige babas gevind. ’n Betekenisvolle korrelasie is tussen oormatige gewig en groot motoriese vertraging gevind. Oor die volgende jaar het beide gewig en motoriese ontwikkeling in die meerderheid babas na normaal teruggekeer (Jaffe en Kosakov, 1982:619). Parizkova (1996) het gevind dat die potensiële verslegtende effek van ’n oormaat vet op dinamiese prestasie, na gelang van ouderdom en hoe lank die vetsug duur, verhoog. Die navorser het ontdek dat die effek van verhoogde gewig en liggaamsmassa-indeks by voorskoolse kinders slegs in sekere areas duidelik is, soos by staande verspring en die 20 meter spoed toets, en aansienlik minder by ander gemete veranderlikes. Die betekenisvolle effek van verhoogde gewig en vet is die merkbaarste gedurende puberteit. Na aanleiding van die voorafgaande statistiek en navorsing, word die vraag gevra of vetsug ’n invloed op die motoriese vaardigheid van 8- tot 11-jarige kinders het. Die eerste doel van die studie was om 30 kinders met vetsug te identifiseer (ouderdomme 8 tot 11 jaar) en 30 nievetsugtige kinders (ouderdomme 8 tot 11 jaar) om die kontrolegroep te vorm. Die liggaamsmassa-indeks is as kriterium gebruik om die vetsug te bepaal. Seuns met ’n liggaamsmassa-indeks van 18- 21 kg/m2 en meisies met ’n liggaamsmassa-indeks van 18-22 kg/m2 is as vetsugtig geïdentifiseer, terwyl die kontrolegroep almal ’n liggaamsmassa-indeks van minder as 18 kg/m2 gehad het. Vetpersentasie is bepaal deur die Heath en Carter-metode (huidplooie van die driekopspier, die onderbladbeen, paranawel, supraderm, middelbobeen en middelkuit) te gebruik (Heath en Carter, 1969:57). Verder is die liggaamsbouvorm gebruik vir ’n estimasie van die liggaamsamestelling. Die liggaamsbouvorm van ’n individu word uitgedruk deur ’n driesyfer-evaluering wat bestaan uit drie opeenvolgende syfers (bepaal vanaf die laagste tot die hoogste, 1-7) en altyd gelys in dieselfde volgorde. Elke syfer verteenwoordig die evaluering van ’n basiese komponent, endomorfie (wat verband hou met relatiewe vet), mesomorfie (wat verband hou met skeletale spierontwikkeling) en ektomorfie (wat verband hou met die relatiewe lineariteit van die liggaam). Daarna is die vetsugtige (n=30) en die nievetsugtige (n=30) kinders, ouderdomme 8 tot 11 jaar, met die Bruininks-Oseretsky-toets (Bruininks, 1978) geëvalueer om hul motoriese vaardigheid te bepaal. Die Bruininks-Oseretsky- toets van motoriese vaardigheid is ’n individueel geadministreerde toets wat die motoriese funksionering van kinders vanaf 4½ tot 14½ jaar evalueer. Die volledige battery – agt subtoetse (Hardloopspoed en Ratsheid, Balans, Bilaterale Koördinasie, Krag, Spoed van Boonste Ledemate, Responsspoed, Visueel Motoriese Kontrole en Koördinasie van Boonste Ledemate en Behendigheid) bestaande uit 46 afsonderlike items – verskaf ’n omvattende indeks van motoriese vaardigheid, asook afsonderlike indekse van beide groot en fyn motoriese vaardighede. Die Kort Vorm – 14 items van die Volledige Battery – verskaf ’n kort opname van algemene motoriese vaardigheid (Bruininks, 1978:11). Die data is deur middel van die t-toets geanaliseer. Hierdie toets is gebruik omdat dit die mees algemene metode is om die verskille in vermoëns tussen twee groepe te evalueer. Die studie het getoon dat daar geen betekenisvolle verskil is tussen enige van die ouderdomsgroepe (8, 9, 10 of 11) wat betref die motoriese vaardigheid van vetsugtige versus nievetsugtige kinders nie. Dit is in teenstelling met die hipotese wat stel dat daar ’n betekenisvolle verskil tussen die motoriese vaardigheid van vetsugtige versus nievetsugtige kinders sal wees. Alhoewel die studie tot die gevolgtrekking kon kom dat daar geen groot verskille tussen die twee groepe is nie, bly vetsug ’n bekommernis. Die voorkoms van hierdie epidemie styg jaar na jaar en daar word daarom aanbeveel dat vetsug so ver as moontlik voorkom moet word en diegene wat aan vetsug ly moet so gou as moontlik behandel word wanneer hulle met vetsug gediagnoseer word. Behandeling van vetsug is die suksesvolste indien realistiese doelstellings gestel word; ’n gebalanseerde dieet beklemtoon word; ’n veilige tempo van gewigsverlies van omtrent 0.5 kg per week word bereik deur middelmatige vermindering van energie-inname (omtrent ’n afname van 20-25%); verhoogde fisiese aktiwiteit word net soveel beklemtoon as dieet; ouerlike ondersteuning is sterk en gedragsterapie word verskaf om beide die kind en die ouers te help om die dieet-, oefening- en gedragsdoelstellings te bereik (Frühbeck, 2000:328). ’n Ander bekommernis is dat die motoriese vaardigheid van kinders tussen 8 en 11 jaar nie is wat dit veronderstel is om te wees nie. Beide die vetsugtige en nievetsugtige groepe het ’n lae telling van motoriese vaardigheid gehad wat beteken dat hulle waarskynlik nooit aan toepaslike motoriese ontwikkeling in hul vroeë kinderjare blootgestel is nie. Daar word dus aanbeveel dat meer aandag gegee moet word aan die vroeë motoriese ontwikkeling om kinders te help om hul motoriese vaardigheid te verbeter wat noodsaaklik is vir die uitvoering van gespesialiseerde bewegings in latere kinderjare en adolessensie. Motoriese ontwikkelingsprogramme kan in voorskoolse en laerskole as deel van die kurrikulum geïmplementeer word.
Dissertation (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--University of the Free State, 2005
Keywords: Obesity in children; Motor learning; Motor ability in children; Movement education; Bruininks-Oseretsky Test Battery; Somatotype; Body mass index; Fat percentage; Motor Proficiency; Motor development; Obesity -- Exercise therapy; Motor ability in children