Relational Composition between Physique, Body Composition and Motor performance in South Korean Preschool Children

Abstract

There are very few studies on the growth and development of physique and motor performance of infant in South Korea. Moreover, studies regarding relational composition among physique, body composition and motor performance almost have not been done. This study analyzed the relationship between body composition and motor performance in young Korean girls, and investigated the resulting regression construction. The subjects were 31 five-year-old girls and 39 six-year-old girls in the city of Seoul. Physique, body composition, and motor performance were measured and a correlation analysis was performed. First to third order regression polynomial analyses were then performed for items found to have a significant correlation. A 3-step mean evaluation method from the body fat percentage statistic was then applied, and an analysis of variance was performed for motor performance of groups based on classification of body fatness. The results showed significant correlations between body fat percentage and muscle percentage in hanging from a horizontal bar in 5-year-old girls (P<0.05). For the 5-year-old girls a first-order regression polynomial was judged to be valid for hanging from a horizontal bar with respect to body fat percentage and muscle percentage. Thus, the composition of change was confirmed for the first time. But in the 6-year-old girls, the results showed no significant correlations between body fat percentage and muscle percentage in motor performance. Next, motor performance in groups determined by the 3-step mean value evaluation in body fatness and level of muscle strength was compared using a multiple comparison test, and significant differences were seen in hanging from a horizontal bar and one-legged hop in 5-year-old children, and in one-legged hop and jump over and crawl in 6-year-old children (P<0.05). As the results, it was suggested that body fat and muscle affect muscle endurance, however, was not clear in regard to relationship between motor performance and body composition in young children.