Motor Competence and Waist-to-Height Ratio in Preschoolers

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between motor competence (MC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in preschoolers. A cross-sectional study included 210 children aged 3–6 years. MC was assessed according to the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, which comprised the aiming and catching and balance components. MC was categorized in the red zone as poor MC and in the green zone as high MC. WHtR was categorized as no risk (<0.05) and at risk (≥0.05). Sedentary behavior was assessed by accelerometer. The WHtR prevalence at risk was 45.2%. For participants who were categorized in the red zone, the prevalence for the aiming and catching components was 38.6% and 15.2% for the balance component. Adjusted binary logistic regression showed that children at WHtR risk were 4.0 times more likely (odds ratio: 4.0; confidence interval: [1.8, 8.9]) to be in the red zone for aiming and catching and 4.1 times more likely (odds ratio: 4.1; confidence interval: [1.4, 11.8]) for balance compared with their no-risk peers. The findings suggest that poor MC is associated with a higher WHtR in preschoolers, highlighting the importance of early interventions that support the development of MC in preschoolers, particularly among those presenting early signs of central adiposity.