Gross motor development, physical activity and anthropometry of Grade 1’s in a South African school

Abstract

Background: Gross motor difficulties can limit physical activity (PA) participation, contributing to unhealthy body composition.
Aim: This study profiled Grade 1 learners’ gross motor development, PA and anthropometry and explored relationships between these variables.
Setting: A cross-sectional design was followed, including Grade 1 learners (33 girls [58%]; 24 boys [42%]) from one primary school.
Methods: The Test of Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) evaluated gross motor development, while the Physical Activity Questionnaire-Young Children (PAQ-YC) determined PA participation. Anthropometry measurements were taken using standardised techniques.
Results: Participants predominantly portrayed average gross motor skills (49.1%), ball skills (50.9%) and locomotor skills (64.9%). Participation in a variety of PA types was evident, with outdoor play having the highest median (240 min per week). Participants spent 270 min (median) on screen time per week. Body mass index (BMI) results classified 31.6% of participants as overweight or obese. Central obesity (waist-to-height ratio) was identified in 29.8% of participants, while fat percentage, respectively, categorised 19.3% and 22.8% as overweight and obese. BMI significantly correlated with gross motor index (p = 0.0350; rho = −0.280) and ball skills (p = 0.0351; rho = −0.280), while fat percentage was significantly associated with gross motor index (p = 0.0046).
Conclusion: Participants portrayed average gross motor skills and sufficient PA levels, although screen time was high. Unhealthy body composition is significantly related to poorer gross motor skills.
Contribution: Alarmingly high incidences of unhealthy body composition negatively affect motor skills. Intervention programmes should therefore be implemented to improve young children’s body composition.