Body Mass Index and Motor Status of Preschool Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to establish the existence of gender differences in motor skills in the preschool period as well as to check their nutritional status. The classification of their nutritional status has been performed based on their body mass index (BMI), based on the percentile values according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2000). Total sample consisted of 188 examinees with average values of body height (BH=124.59 cm±5.76) and body weight (BW=24.32 kg±3.11) with average age of 6.39±0.44 years, out which boys (N=107) and girls (N=81). Non-experimental research design, ex post facto correlation research plan, has been used. The battery with seven motor tests according to Bala and Popović (2007), has been used in this research. The study results show that the prevalence of malnourished children is 10.64%, well nourished 72.34%, tending to become obese 9.57% and obese children 7.44%, also with the existing gender difference in motor abilities in favour of better average values of boys in coordination, explosive and repetitive strength. The research results show that there is the satisfying percentage of normally nourished children and that the linearity of their nutritional status is in accordance with their motor status, growth and development. On the other hand, the perceived gender difference are present due to differentiation of motor abilities that occurs at this age. The authors point out that greater differences and variability regarding the level of nourishment and motor abilities of children can be expected only in prepuberty period, which will happen in the next phase.