Most overweight children and their parents ranked the children’s levels of physical competence lower, compared with normal weight children, based on data from a study of 1,414 children aged 9 and 11 years and their parents.

The study findings were published online in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (J. Sci. Med. Sport 2010 [doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2010.04.002]).

The goal of the study was to compare children’s and parents’ perceptions of physical competence in overweight vs. normal weight children, said Dr. Rachel A. Jones and her colleagues at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia.

“Better understanding of these differences at different stages of development may lead to identifying more specific and appropriate intervention points to promote physical activity in overweight children,” the researchers wrote.

They evaluated 692 9-year-olds, of whom 189 (27%) were overweight or obese, and 722 11-year-olds, of whom 196 (27%) were overweight or obese. The average body mass indexes of the overweight and nonoverweight 9-year-olds and 11-year-olds were 22 kg/m2 and 17 kg/m2, respectively, and 18 kg/m2 and 25 kg/m2, respectively.

Among 9-year-olds, self-perceived physical competence was lower in overweight vs. normal weight children, but most of these differences were not statistically significant. There were two exceptions: Perceived ability to play new sports was significantly lower among overweight boys, and the overall perceived physical competence subtotal was higher in overweight girls.

Among 11-year-olds, boys who were overweight rated themselves as less competent in sports and outdoor games, and more likely to watch rather than participate, compared with their normal-weight peers. Similar trends were seen in 11-year-old girls. In addition, 11-year-old boys’ and girls’ scores for perceived athletic competence and total perceived physical competence were significantly lower, compared with their normal-weight peers.

The researchers then asked parents to rate their children’s overall ability to play sports and games and to rate the children on individual components, including running, throwing, catching, kicking, and jumping. Parents of overweight boys in both age groups perceived them as significantly less competent at running, jumping, skipping, leaping, and hopping than did parents of normal-weight boys. However, parents of overweight 9-year-old girls rated only their daughters’ ability to run significantly lower than did parents of normal-weight 9-year-old girls. But for 11-year-olds, parents of overweight girls rated their daughters’ ability to run, jump, and leap significantly lower than did parents of normal-weight girls.

Actual physical competence was assessed based on composite performance of four skills. Trained assessors who were blinded to the actual study goals tested 9-year-olds on their ability to hop, skip, side gallop, and throw. They tested the 11-year-olds on their ability to run, throw, catch, and strike. The actual composite scores for fundamental physical skills were significantly lower in overweight boys in both age groups, compared with normal-weight boys, but only differed significantly by weight in 11-year-old girls.

The researchers suggested that parents should reassure their overweight children that they are capable of engaging in sports and exercise, and encourage them to do so. Previous studies have shown that children’s perceptions of their physical abilities are affected by their parents’ perceptions, they noted.

Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the results, but the current study findings support data from previous studies showing reduced physical competence in overweight or obese children, compared with leaner children. The data also suggest that interventions to improve physical competence in children younger than age 10 years could reduce the differences in both actual and perceived physical competence between normal-weight and overweight or obese children, the researchers added.

Dr. Jones and colleagues had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Global Medical News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

一项入选1,414 名年龄为9~11岁的儿童及其父母的研究显示，与正常体重儿童相比，超重儿童对自身体育能力的评价多半较低，并且这些超重儿童的父母也持此观点。

 

该研究在线发表于《运动科学与医学杂志》 ( Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport) (J. Sci. Med. Sport 2010 [doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2010.04.002])。

 

澳大利亚新南威尔士卧龙岗大学的Rachel A. Jones博士及其同事表示，研究旨在比较超重儿童与正常体重儿童对自身体育能力的评价，以及父母们对这些儿童体育能力的评价。

 

研究者写道：“对不同发育阶段儿童的体育能力评价差异的深入了解有助于制定更具体更对症的干预措施，从而促进超重儿童参与体育活动。”

 

在受试儿童中，692名的年龄为9岁，其中189名(27%)超重或肥胖，722名的年龄为11岁，其中196名(27%)超重或肥胖。超重和非超重9岁儿童的平均体重指数分别为22 kg/m² 和17 kg/m²，超重和非超重11岁儿童的平均体重指数分别为18 kg/m² 和 25 kg/m²。

 

在9岁儿童组中，超重者对自身体育能力的评价低于正常体重者，但这些差异大多无统计学意义。不过，超重男孩对自身进行新运动项目能力的评价显著低于正常体重男孩，而超重女孩对自身体育能力的总体评价高于正常体重女孩。

 

在11岁组中，与正常体重男孩相比，超重男孩对自身参与运动和户外游戏能力的评价更低，并且更可能宁愿作壁上观而不愿参与其中；在女孩中也观察到相似结果。此外，在11岁组中，超重男孩和女孩自我评定的运动能力评分和总体体育能力评分均显著低于正常体重的男孩和女孩。

 

研究者除了要求父母对自己孩子的总体活动和游戏能力进行评价之外，还要求其对孩子在跑步、投掷、抓接、踢和上下跳等各个单项技能进行评价。在两个年龄组中，与正常体重男孩的父母相比，超重男孩的父母对孩子的跑步、上下跳、交替跳、前跳和单脚跳能力的评价明显更低。然而，在9岁组中，超重女孩的父母对孩子的各项技能的评价中仅跑步一项的评价显著低于正常体重女孩的父母给出的评价。但在11岁组中，超重女孩的父母对孩子的跑步、上下跳和前跳技能的评价显著低于正常体重女孩的父母给出的评价。

 

实际体育能力的评价基于4项技能的综合表现。由对实际研究目标不知情的经过培训的评价者对这些儿童的各项技能进行评价。9岁组的评价项目为单脚跳、交替跳、侧跳和投掷能力。11岁组的评价项目为跑步、投掷、抓接和击打能力。在两个年龄组中均观察到超重男孩的基本体育技能的实际综合评分显著低于正常体重男孩。但仅在11岁组中观察到超重女孩的基本体育技能的实际综合评分显著低于正常体重女孩。

 

研究者建议，父母应积极消除超重孩子的顾虑，使他们确信自己具备参与运动和锻炼的能力，并鼓励他们这么做。研究者指出，既往研究表明，儿童对自身体育能力的感知评价受其父母的感知评价的影响。

 

既往研究也发现，超重或肥胖儿童的体育能力低于体瘦儿童，这与本研究结果一致。不过，还需开展纵向研究对这些结果进行证实。研究者补充说，研究数据也显示，那些可改善10岁以下儿童的体育能力的干预措施有助于缩小正常体重儿童与超重或肥胖儿童在实际体育能力和自觉体育能力这两方面的差异。

 

Jones 博士及其声明没有任何经济利益冲突。

 

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