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Table 2 Distribution of body mass index (BMI) z-score, BMI categories and motor skills

From: Obesity and motor skills among 4 to 6-year-old children in the united states: nationally-representative surveys

 

Boys

Girls

 

4 y

n = 2 450a

5-6 y

n = 2 300

4 y

n = 2 700

5-6 y

n = 2 400

Body mass index (BMI)

    

Z-score (mean, SE)

0.62 (0.03)

0.63 (0.03)

0.63 (0.03)

0.65 (0.03)

CDC categories (%)

    

Underweight

2.2

1.9

1.8

1.9

Normal

63.8

65.1

63.6

64.1

Overweight

17.3

17.2

19.5

18.7

Obesity

16.8

16.1

15.1

15.1

IOTF and Cole categories b (%)

    

Underweight

0.9

0.5

0.8

0.5

Normal

77.1

75.9

73.5

70.1

Overweight

15.7

16.6

17.2

19.0

Obesity

6.3

7.0

8.5

10.4

Motor skill c

    

Gross motor skill

    

Balance at least 10 sec. (%)

    

Right foot

45.8

75.0

53.6

83.3

Left foot

44.6

74.4

52.5

81.9

Hop 5 times (%)

    

Right foot

66.2

88.1

70.4

92.2

Left foot

61.3

85.5

63.9

89.8

Jump distance (inches) (mean, SE)

27.9 (0.24)

32.4 (0.28)

24.7 (0.28)

29.9 (0.31)

Skip at least 8 steps (%)

20.5

37.7

32.4

59.2

Walk backwards 6 steps on line (%)

33.9

38.3

40.9

48.6

Bean bag catch (at least 5 caught) (%)

42.1

51.8

38.3

50.8

Fine motor skill c

    

Blocks (%)

    

Passed one (either tower or gate)

44.1

-

44.9

-

Passed both

42.9

-

42.9

-

Gate passed

-

79.2

-

81.8

Copy form (mean, SE)

3.2 (0.04)

2.5 (0.04)

3.8 (0.04)

2.3 (0.04)

  1. Estimations of percentages, means and standard errors of the mean (SE) are weighted and take into account the complex sampling design.
  2. BMI; Body mass index, CDC; Centers for Disease Control and prevention, IOTF; International Obesity Task Force
  3. aUnweighted sample size rounded to the nearest 50. bSee definitions in the Methods section. cPercentages of passing the test are presented (except for jump distance).