Relations between Some Anthropometric Characteristics and Fundamental Movement Skills in Eight-Year-Old Children

This study was set to determine the relationship between Body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (BF) and fundamental movement skills of eight-year-old children. Seventy-three (36 boys, 37 girls) second grade children were included in the testing. Weight, height, triceps and calf skinfolds were measured for BMI and BF assessment. Two different approach fundamental movement skills tests were administered: “Test of Gross Motor Development-2” (TGMD-2) and fundamental movement skills test (FMS-POLYGON). The correlation between the BMI and the results in two administered tests proved not to be statistically significant. However, significant correlations were found between BF and total TGMD-2 score (r=-0.42; p=0.011) and the total FMS-POLYGON score (r=0.45; p=0.05) only among girls. The most commonly used test for body composition assessment in children – BMI – proved not to be precise enough in relations with FMS. Significant correlation between BMI and fundamental movement skills are expected only in targeted (homogeneous) group of subjects.