The relationship between motor skills, ADHD symptoms, and childhood body weight

Juliana B Goulardins; Daniela Rigoli; Jan P Piek; Robert Kane; Siméia G Palácio; Erasmo B Casella; Roseane O Nascimento; Renata H Hasue; Jorge A Oliveira

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2016.05.005

The relationship between motor skills, ADHD symptoms, and childhood body weight

Res Dev Disabil. 2016 Aug:55:279-86. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.05.005. Epub 2016 May 20.

Authors

Juliana B Goulardins¹, Daniela Rigoli², Jan P Piek², Robert Kane², Siméia G Palácio³, Erasmo B Casella³, Roseane O Nascimento⁴, Renata H Hasue⁵, Jorge A Oliveira⁴

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Motor Behaviour, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Melo Morais, 65, Cidade Universitaria, 05508-030 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: jugoulardins@usp.br.
² School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA 6845, Australia.
³ Child Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 647, Jardim Paulista, 05403-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
⁴ Laboratory of Motor Behaviour, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Melo Morais, 65, Cidade Universitaria, 05508-030 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Physical Therapy, Communication Science & Disorders and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Rua Cipotânea, 51, Cidade Universitaria, 05360-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil.

PMID: 27214681
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.05.005

Abstract

Background: Research has suggested an important association between motor proficiency and overweight/obesity. Many children with motor difficulties experience ADHD symptoms which have also been linked with overweight/obesity. Previous research has not considered both ADHD and motor performance when investigating their relationship with overweight/obesity.

Aims: To investigate the relationships between motor performance, ADHD symptoms, and overweight/obesity in children.

Methods and procedures: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving189 children aged six to 10 years. Symptoms of ADHD were identified using the SNAP-IV rating scale. Motor impairment (MI) was identified using the Movement Battery Assessment for Children-2. Body composition was estimated from the Body Mass Index (BMI) based on World Health Organization child growth standards.

Outcomes and results: Balance was the only motor skill associated with BMI even after controlling for gender and ADHD. Group comparisons revealed that the proportion of overweight ADHD children was significantly less than the proportion of overweight control children and overweight MI children; the proportion of underweight ADHD children was significantly greater than the proportion of underweight MI children.

Conclusions and implications: The results highlight the importance of taking into consideration both ADHD symptoms and motor difficulties in the assessment and intervention of physical health outcomes in children with ADHD and/or movement problems.

Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Children; Motor impairment; Obesity; Overweight.

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Brazil / epidemiology
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Motor Skills Disorders / epidemiology*
Motor Skills Disorders / physiopathology
Motor Skills*
Obesity / epidemiology*
Overweight / epidemiology
Postural Balance*
Thinness / epidemiology*