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We evaluated the association between weight status and motor competence from preschool age (3‐5 years of age) until middle childhood (7‐9 years of age). Longitudinal study with three to five‐year‐old preschool children (n = 1155) enrolled in public and private preschools in Recife, Brazil. Children were followed twice (2010, 2012, and 2014) for four years. Köperkoordinationstest für kinder (KTK) assessed the children's motor competence (KTK Motor Quotient). Weight status (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity) was classified according to the children's sex and age. Preschool children with normal weight exhibited higher motor competence at 5‐7 years of age compared to preschool children with overweight (+3.73 MQ, P =.03) and obesity (+5.09 MQ, P <.01). Preschool children with normal weight presented higher motor competence at 7‐9 years of age compared to their peers with overweight (+6.00 MQ, P =.03) and obesity (+5.88 MQ, P =.01). Children with normal weight at 5‐7 years of age presented higher motor competence at 7‐9 years of age compared to their peers with overweight (+3.33 MQ, P =.02) and obesity (+4.00 MQ, P =.02). Independent of the childhood phase and extension of the period evaluated (2‐ or 4‐year period), children who had excessive weight (overweight or obesity) and changed their weight status to underweight or normal weight presented similar motor competence compared to children who continued underweight or normal weight. Weight status already at preschool age is an important predictor of the children's motor competence until middle childhood. Interventions improving the children's weight status, already at preschool age, might impact their motor competence development positively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the association between body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA) and motor competence (MC) has been widely investigated, the influence of different environmental contexts is not well defined. To analyse the relationship between BMI, PA and MC and the moderating role of the environmental context. A cross-sectional study was performed with 668 children (318 boys) aged 5–7 years (north-eastern district – Brazil). MC (Körper koordination test fur Kinder; KTK), BMI and PA (parent reporting) were assessed. To classify three contexts of the environment a variable was created based on the presence of a sports court in school and/or environment for play or sports practice out of school. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions, interaction test and estimation of coefficients in moderation analysis were used. BMI (β = −2.93; p <.01) and age (β = 19.02; p <.01) were associated, and PA was not associated (β = 0.07; p =.05) with MC. The strength of the association between BMI and MC changed based on the environmental contexts. The better the environment context the weaker the association between BMI and MC (β = −2.93, p <.01 to β = −2.38, p =.33 to β = 0.26, p =.94). The association between BMI and MC is moderated by environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]