Motor Competence and Body Composition in young adults: An exploratory study

Abstract

Background

The association between obesity and physical inactivity strongly and independently predict overall obesity in young adulthood. Physical inactivity and increasing obesity in our society is multifaceted, but on key factor to promote physical activity is motor competence (MC).

Purpose

This study aimed to analyse a physically active group of young adults by investigating the correlations between MC, adiposity and body mineral density by using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Methods

Forty-four young men (22,1 ± years; 69,0 ± kg; 173,7 ± meters) and 21 young women (20,2 ± years; 63,8 ± kg; 169,6 ± meters) participated in this study and completed anthropometrics; DXA; Motor Competence assessment battery that comprise two tests for each of the three constructs: locomotor, manipulative and stability. Descriptive statistics were considered and Spearman's correlation test to examine the association between MC scores and DXA results. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare males to females for p < 0,05.

Results

Motor Competence (MC) variables and body composition in female revealed significant associations only between shuttle run and total fat (r = −0,648). In males, demonstrate several positive statistically associations with MC Stability and Locomotor tasks and constructs (p < 0,05).

Conclusions

In very active young adults, MC positive influences weight status, particularly in locomotor and stability tasks.

Introduction

Over weightness and obesity are public health problems due to their association with morbidity and mortality (Bjorntorp et al., 2000; Gaio et al., 2018). The prevalence of overweightness and obesity in most European countries is increasing and is one of the most common health problems in Portugal (Gaio et al., 2018). Physical inactivity is a major problem, and has become a global pandemic (Sallis et al., 2016). Eliminating physical inactivity could lead to a 0.68 years increase in life expectancy of the world's population (Lee et al., 2012) with significant economic impacts, since physical inactivity is also a major economic burden worldwide (Ding et al., 2016).

The association between obesity and physical inactivity strongly and independently predict overall (and especially abdominal) obesity in young adulthood (Hills et al., 2011; Pietiläinen et al., 2008). Obesity and physical inactivity operate in a self-perpetuating vicious circle, as a physically inactive lifestyle fosters weight gain and vice versa, independent of genetic effects (Pietiläinen et al., 2008). Physically inactive adolescents demonstrate a significantly increased risk of obesity during adulthood, as the transition period from adolescence to young adulthood is a crucial time that determines one's lifestyle (Pietiläinen et al., 2008).

The problem of physical inactivity and increasing obesity in our society is multifaceted, but one key factor that promotes physical activity is motor competence (MC) (Stodden et al., 2008). This observation is linked to the fact that the development of MC is a vital underlying mechanism that promotes engagement in physical activity; it is both a precursor and a consequence of one's weight status (Robinson et al., 2015; Stodden et al., 2008). MC demonstrates an inverse relationship with weight status across childhood and adolescence (Robinson et al., 2015). Longitudinal studies establish that MC is a strong predictor for physical activity (Lopes et al., 2012a) and physical fitness (Rodrigues et al., 2016). Longitudinal studies demonstrate that lower MC in children is associated with increased body mass index (Lopes et al., 2012a) and with weight status (Lubans et al., 2010). The strength of association over time demonstrate a negative developmental trajectories between MC and body fat across childhood and into adolescence since those with lower MC performance at baseline had higher risk of having higher fat levels after 7 years (Lima et al., 2018). This associations emerge at pre-school age and become stronger during elementary school years, being less conclusive beyond this age (Robinson et al., 2015).

To the best of our knowledge, there are few studies that test body composition, physical activity and MC in the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Based on the importance of such factors in controlling the global problem of overweightness, this study aimed to analyse a physically active group of young adults by investigating the correlations between MC, adiposity, and body mineral density by using dual X-ray absorptiometry.