Association Between Age of Achieving Gross Motor Development Milestones During Infancy and Body Fat Percentage at 6 to 7 Years of Age

The later achievement of gross motor milestones during infancy is associated with adiposity in early childhood. However, the associations between gross motor development and adiposity after entering primary school are unclear. This study examined the associations between the ages at which six gross motor milestones were achieved and adiposity during early school years. This retrospective study was conducted in 2012 and 2013. Data were collected from 225 first-grade primary school children (mean age, 6.9 years; 39% girls). Adiposity was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and expressed as body fat percentage. Data describing the ages of achieving six gross motor milestones (holding head up, sitting, crawling, standing supported, walking supported, and independent walking) were obtained from the Maternal and Child Health Handbooks. Mean body fat percentage was 21.7%. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that later ages of achieving crawling (p < .001 [95% confidence interval: 0.33–1.16]), standing supported (p < .001 [95% confidence interval: 0.64–1.65]), and walking supported [p = .013 (95% confidence interval: 0.13–1.07)] were associated with increased fat. However, the ages of achieving holding head up (p = .053), sitting (p = .175), and independent walking (p = .736) were not statistically significant. Achieving crawling, standing supported, and walking supported later predict increased body fat when aged 6–7 years. The practice of observing gross motor milestone achievements may allow early targeted interventions to optimize body composition before beginning school and thereby, potentially prevent childhood obesity.