Performance in simple and choice reaction time tasks between obese and healthy-weight children and the influence of physical activity

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate weight status related differences in reaction time tasks to determine whether or not childhood obesity is associated with impaired perceptual-motor function and to investigate whether or not this relationship is mediated by physical activity participation. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, sixteen obese children and sixteen gender and age matched healthy-weight peers performed a simple reaction time (SRT) and four choice reaction time (CRT) task, and completed the Flemish Physical Activity Questionnaire. Absolute mean reaction time (RT), movement time (MT) and response time (RsT) were implemented in a 2 (obese vs. healthy-weight) × 2 (SRT vs. CRT task) x 2 (active vs. non-active) Repeated measures ANCOVA, with age included as a covariate. RESULT(S): Obese children were found to be significantly slower than their healthy-weight peers during the SRT task as reflected by a significantly higher absolute RT, MT and RsT. In the CRT task, however, between-group differences were only present for RT and RsT, whereas absolute MT was comparable among obese and healthy-weight participants. These weight related differences in performances on both the SRT and CRT were not mediated by children’s physical activity level (active vs. non-active). CONCLUSION(S): Our study strongly suggests that childhood obesity is associated with a different perceptual-motor function independent of children’s physical activity level. Only by means of a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms, intervention programs aimed at enhancing neuromuscular function and motor skill performance can be developed and Implemented within the obese childhood population, entailing indirect benefits in health-related behaviors and outcomes