Poor Motor Competence Affects Functional Capacities and Healthcare in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

Abstract

Background: From a young age, children learn different motor skills known as fundamental motor skills. The acquisition of these skills is crucial for the future development of context-tailored actions that could improve adherence to physical activity (PA) practice. Motor competence and function deficits have been associated with pediatric obesity. We reviewed the literature data regarding motor competence in pediatrics and impaired motor performance in children and adolescents with obesity. Methods: We assessed the abstracts of the available literature (n = 110) and reviewed the full texts of potentially relevant articles (n = 65) that were analyzed to provide a critical discussion. Results: Children and adolescents with obesity show impaired motor performance, executive functions, postural control, and motor coordination. Children’s age represents a crucial point in the development of motor skills. Early interventions are crucial to preventing declines in motor proficiency and impacting children’s PA and overall fitness levels. Conclusions: To involve children, the PA protocol must be fun and tailored in consideration of several aspects, such as clinical picture, level of physical fitness, and motor skills. A supervised adapted exercise program is useful to personalized PA programs from an early pediatric age.