Purpose: To follow changes in body mass index (BMI) in a group of children over a period of 4 years.
Most physical fitness test batteries for children include a measure or estimate of body composition. Body composition in children can be measured using many methods. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and each has limitations that lead to measurement errors. One practical measurement for school programs is BMI based on height and weight (body weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters). The BMI is not a measure of fatness but rather an assessment of obesity.
In this assignment, you will use BMI measurements, of five boys and five girls (ages 5.5 to 9.5 years) to look at change over a substantial part of the childhood period. The BMI data you will use is provided in Table 12.1 (Excel sheet) below.
You will use this Excel sheet to make your calculations and your graphs. Make sure that after you make the calculations and the graphs for both the boys and the girls
Table 12.1 Body Composition (BMI) in Childhood
Participant
Age (yr):
5,5
14
14,9
14,3
14,6
14,9
6
14,9
18,1
13,8
14
14,6
6,5
15,2
20,4
13,8
14
15,5
7
15,8
21,4
14,3
14
16,4
7,5
15,4
19,7
14
13,5
16
8
16,5
20,5
14,2
14,3
15,6
8,5
16
21,1
14,2
14
16,8
Age (yr):
5,5
17,2
15,9
13
17,6
15,5
6
17,7
15,7
13,9
18,6
15,5
6,5
*
15,6
13,4
18,4
14,6
7
19,1
16,4
14
19
15,1
7,5
19,2
15,4
13
19
14
8
19,5
15,7
13,5
19,7
14,9
8,5
19,3
16,5
14
21,3
15
Girl 1
Girl 2
Girl 3
Girl 4
Girl 5
Girls’ BMI avg.
Boy 1
Boy 2
Boy 3
Boy 4
Boy 5
Boys’ BMI avg.
*Student was not measured.
highlighted cells = overweight or obese
From K.M. Haywood and N. Getchell, 2020, Life span motor development web study guide, 7th ed. (Champaign, IL:
Human Kinetics).
9
16,7
22,9
13,8
13,8
17
9,5
16,8
22,8
14,4
14
18
9
20
15,8
13,3
20,3
15,6
9,5
18,8
15,3
13,5
21
15,9
e, 7th ed. (Champaign, IL:
KIN 487 Motor Development
Week 10 Assignment Form: ‘Body Composition in Childhood’
Dr. Mitchell
Your full name:
(Please use complete sentences in your answers. Please make your answers in a different
font, in bold, or different color). Complete the assignment using this form, save to your
computer, and then submit the assignment by the due date. This assignment form has 2
(two) pages. Make sure you submit both this assignment answer sheet AND your Excel
file containing your calculations and graphs to ILearn by the due date.
1. Make sure you type in your full name above
2. Using Table 12.1 (Excel) provided in the assignment, calculate the girls and boys average
BMI’s across ages 5.5 to 9.5 (total of 9 averages for each sex). After opening up the Excel
file, click on ‘Enable Editing’.
How to calculate the average BMI’s for each year
Click on the box (in light blue) that represents the Girl’s BMI avg. for the age of 5.5 years. A note
will appear that reminds you that ‘All the boxes in light blue need to be filled in with the average
of each column’. Click on the ‘fx’ button in the formula bar. A pop up window will appear that
should highlight the ‘Average’ formula function. Click on ‘OK’. A ‘Function Arguments’ pop up
window will occur. With your cursor or mouse, highlight the first column of the five girls, ages
5.5. Then hit ‘OK’ in the pop up window. The average of the five girls, ages 5.5, will appear.
Repeat this process for the remaining columns of girls’ data and then the boys’ data
3. Create two graphs on your Excel sheet, one for the boys and one for the girls. Each
graph should contain the individual data as well as the averages. Please make ‘line’
graphs, NOT histograms. Make sure your graphs are properly labeled, both x and y axes
and titled. Save the Excel sheet to your computer. Make sure you submit this Excel sheet
with the graphs, along with this complete assignment sheet.
Look at your graphs of the girls’ and the boys’ data.
4. Is there a trend toward an increased or decreased BMI for the girls’ group average?
5. Is there a trend toward an increased or decreased BMI for the boys’ group average?
6. What does your observation tell you about changes in BMI from ages 5.5 to 9.5 years for
girls and boys?
7. Describe at least three factors that might contribute to overweightness and obesity in
girls and boys.
8. Identify what type of constraint (individual, task, environment) these factors have on
the individual’s development or motor performance.
9. How do you think these factors could affect individuals health and motor performance
during childhood and adulthood?
10. Which course objective(s) do you feel this assignment relates to (see next page for the
course objectives)?
REMEMBER: These are the actual course objectives in the syllabus.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Define motor development and related why the concepts are important for your chosen
career.
2. Classify, assess, and analyze motor behavior from observation of videos
3. Describe the elements of Newell’s model of constraints and how you can use the model
to help you make modifications to help improve motor performance.