Obesity and motor coordination ability in Taiwanese children with and without developmental coordination disorder.
In Taiwanese elementary kids, extra weight predicts poorer balance and coordination, especially when DCD is present.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Zhu et al. (2011) weighed and tested 9- and 10-year-old Taiwanese children. Some had developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Some were neurotypical.
The team ran balance beams, jumping, and catching tasks. They scored total motor coordination. Then they compared scores across weight groups.
What they found
Overweight and obese kids scored lower on balance and total motor skills. Children with DCD were more likely to be overweight or obese.
The link showed up in both groups, but the DCD kids were hit harder.
How this fits with other research
Li et al. (2011) followed similar Taiwanese kids for three years. They saw the same pattern: DCD plus extra weight equals poorer fitness over time.
Farhat et al. (2015) tested younger kids and found the same BMI-fitness drop, proving the link starts early.
Whitehouse et al. (2013) looked at DCD severity instead of weight. They found no fitness gap between severe and mild DCD. This seems to clash with Yi-Ching’s clear obesity gradient. The gap likely comes from different tools: O used fitness tests, Yi-Ching used balance and BMI.
Why it matters
If you screen a child for DCD, also note height and weight. Higher BMI is a red flag for weaker balance and coordination. Add brief balance drills or bike warm-ups to your plan. Share the finding with parents: healthy weight supports motor goals.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between obesity and motor coordination ability in Taiwanese children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD). 2029 children (1078 boys, 951 girls) aged nine to ten years were chosen randomly from 14 elementary schools across Taiwan. We used bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure percentage of body fat (PBF) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children test (MABC test) to evaluate the motor coordination ability. Using cut-off points based on PBF from past studies, boys and girls were divided into obese, overweight and normal-weight groups, respectively. In boys, total impairment scores and scores on balance subtest in the MABC were significantly higher in the obese and overweight groups when compared against the normal-weight group. Girls in the obese and the overweight groups had higher balance impairment scores than those of the normal-weight group. Among boys, the prevalence of obesity was highest in the DCD group, when compared to the borderline DCD and TD boys. A higher percentage of DCD girls were overweight and obese than TD girls. Obesity may be associated with poor motor coordination ability among boys and girls, and particularly in relation to balance ability. Children with DCD may have a higher risk to be overweight or obese in Taiwan.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2010.10.020