Abstract

Background

Gross motor coordination (GMC) is a potential correlate of lifestyle behaviours and health outcomes in childhood and adolescence.

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine how sex, age, biological maturation, overweight, stunting, and physical fitness are associated with GMC in children and adolescents from Peru, and to examine associations between geographical area of residence, school-level characteristics, and GMC.

Subjects and methods

The sample included 7408 subjects, aged 6–14 years, from sea level, Amazon and high-altitude regions of Peru. A composite marker of total coordination was derived by the sum of scores from each test (GMC_T). Overweight was identified using BMI, and biological maturation, physical fitness, and stunting were assessed. School characteristics were obtained via an objective audit.

Results

Boys (β = 12.23 ± 0.90) and older children (β = 13.37 ± 0.64) had higher GMC_T than girls and younger children, respectively. Overweight was associated with lower GMC_T (β = −5.23 ± 0.80), whereas fitness was positively associated with GMC_T (β = 6.30 ± 0.25). Biological maturation was not a predictor; however, stunting was negatively associated with GMC_T (β = −3.71 ± 1.56). Subjects living in the Amazon had higher GMC_T than those at sea level (β = 16.57 ± 4.73). Five of nine school-level predictors (number of students, playground area with obstacles, multi-sports roofed, frequency and duration of Physical Education classes) were significant predictors of GMC_T.

Conclusions

Child- and school-level variables were significantly associated with GMC_T in this sample. These findings are important for the Peruvian community, especially school principals, councils and physical education teachers, helping them to define more efficient strategies and action plans to increase motor coordination in children.

中文翻译：

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居住在不同高度的儿童和青少年的总体运动协调能力的多层次分析：秘鲁健康与乐观增长研究

摘要

背景

大运动协调（GMC）是儿童和青少年时期的生活方式和健康状况的潜在关联。

目的

这项研究的目的是研究秘鲁儿童和青少年的性别，年龄，生物成熟度，超重，发育迟缓和身体健康如何与GMC相关联，并研究居住地域，学校水平特征和GMC。

主题与方法

样本包括来自海平面，亚马逊地区和秘鲁高海拔地区的7408名年龄在6至14岁之间的受试者。总协调能力的综合标记是通过每个测试的分数总和得出的（GMC _T）。使用BMI识别超重，并评估其生物成熟度，体能和发育迟缓。学校的特点是通过客观审核获得的。

结果

男孩（β= 12.23±0.90）和大龄儿童（β= 13.37±0.64）的GMC _T分别高于女孩和年龄较小的儿童。超重与较低的GMC _T有关（β = -5.23±0.80），而健康与GMC _T呈正相关（β  = 6.30±0.25）。生物成熟度不是预测因素。然而，发育迟缓与GMC _T呈负相关（β = −3.71±1.56）。居住在亚马逊地区的受试者的GMC _T高于海平面的受试者（β = 16.57±4.73）。九个学校级别的预测因子中的五个（学生人数，有障碍的操场区域，有顶棚的多运动项目，体育课的频率和持续时间）是GMC _T的重要预测因子。

结论

在此样本中，儿童和学校级别的变量与GMC _T显着相关。这些发现对秘鲁社区，尤其是学校校长，理事会和体育教师而言至关重要，有助于他们制定更有效的策略和行动计划，以增强儿童的运动协调能力。