Exploring the incidence of balance and coordination deficits amongst obese adolescents attending school: Insights from an online cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Balance is maintained through automatic postural adjustments that ensure stability during various activities. Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is often associated with other developmental issues, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, speech-language delays, and behavioral and emotional difficulties. Body mass index (BMI) for age is widely used in clinical and public health settings to determine whether a child or adolescent is overweight or obese. Aims: This study aimed to systematically examine the prevalence of balance and coordination impairments among obese adolescents attending school. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 368 school-going obese adolescents. A self-developed questionnaire assessing balance and coordination was administered to the participants. The BMI was calculated for each participant to confirm obesity status. Results: The study found a significant prevalence of balance and coordination impairments among the obese school-going adolescents surveyed. These impairments were observed across various activities requiring postural adjustments and motor skills. Conclusions: The findings suggest a notable incidence of balance and coordination deficits in obese adolescents, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in this population to address these motor skill challenges.

Keywords

• balance impairment
• childhood obesity
• coordination disorder
• obesity adolescents
• students