Fundamental movement skill proficiency and body composition measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in eight-year-old children

Objective: The main aim was to examine the association between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and objectively measured body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: Study of 304 eight-year-old children in Finland. FMS were assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd ed. (TGMD-2). Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal region fat percentage (AF%), and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by DXA. Waist circumference, height and weight were measured and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off values for BMI were used for the definition of healthy weight and overweight/obesity. Results: Better FMS proficiency (object-control, locomotor, total FMS) was significantly and strongly associated with lower BF% and lower AF% measured with DXA. Conclusions: The inverse association between FMS and body composition measured with DXA (BF% and AF%) is an important finding, as body fatness and specifically abdominal fatness are associated with less favourable cardiovascular risk factor status in children.