Can a Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Treatment Improve Motor Performance in Children with Obesity? Results from an Observational Study

In the last two decades, the relationship between weight status and children’s motor skill competence has been receiving increasing attention, given its possible role in the prevention and treatment of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment on motor performance in a sample of Italian children and adolescents. Visual and auditory reaction time (VRT and ART), vertical jump elevation (VJE) and power (VJP), body mass index (BMI) and BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), waist circumference (WC), body composition, dietary habits and physical activity (PA) levels were assessed at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Significant improvements were observed in BMI-SDS and FFM, diet and PA levels. Adolescents showed significant improvements in VRT and ART. Jump elevation and power increased in both children and adolescent subgroups. Girls exhibited greater changes than boys in both VRT and ART and VJP but lower changes in VJE. VRT improvement was related to age (OR = 0.285, 95%CI 0.098–0.830, p = 0.021) and FFM (OR = 0.255, 95%CI 0.070–0.933, p = 0.039). An increase in VJE was associated with BMI-SDS (OR = 0.158, 95%CI 0.036–0.695, p = 0.015) and with PA level (OR = 19.102, 95%CI 4.442–82.142, p < 0.001); the increase in VJP was related with the increase in PA (OR = 5.564, 95%CI 1.812–17.081, p = 0.003). These findings suggest the possible effects of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment on children’s motor competence. Since the improvement in motor skills can increase children’s motivation and adherence to weight loss treatment in the long term, these aspects should be further investigated.