Health endangering overweight in preschool children: Relationship between body composition and physical fitness

Eva-Maria Maintz; Rebekka Mumm; Marla Lechner; Verena Schumacher; Ursula Wittwer-Backofen; Karl Otfried Schwab

doi:10.52905/hbph2024.1.73

Authors

Eva-Maria Maintz Department of General Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology, University Hospital of Freiburg https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1236-0970
Rebekka Mumm Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Human Biology, University of Potsdam, Germany
Marla Lechner Dental Office, Herxheim, Germany
Verena Schumacher University Heart Center of Freiburg, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital of Freiburg, Germany
Ursula Wittwer-Backofen Department of Biological Anthropology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Germany
Karl Otfried Schwab Department of General Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology, University Hospital of Freiburg, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52905/hbph2024.1.73

Keywords:

obesity, motor fitness, BMI, preschool children

Abstract

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is the dominant diagnostic parameter for obesity, but its suitability is controversial. Physical fitness (PF) can be used as an indicator for unhealthy body composition.

Objectives: To characterize groups of overweight children via different anthropometric parameters and their respective PF.

Sample and Methods: Anthropometric measurements (BMI, waist circumference (WC), skinfold thickness (SF), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were assessed in 147 preschool children (age 4.7 ± 1.8 years) at 12 German Kindergartens. Measurements were related to a field battery for PF, assessing musculoskeletal fitness and motor fitness.

Results: All anthropometric measurements characterize different children as overweight, only four children are classified as overweight by all measurements. Children with elevated triceps SF alone or in combination with high subscapular SF or WC but not BMI showed lower PF compared with non-overweight children (long jump (p < 0.001), high jump (p = 0.002), shuttle run (p = 0.032)).

Conclusions: Triceps SF measuring peripheral fat mass alone and in combination with parameters of central fat might be an effective method to detect poor PF indicating health impairing overweight in 3- to 6-year-old children while preventive examinations should not be placed exclusively on the BMI.

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