Clumsy at seven - obese at 30

According to new research children who are clumsy and poorly coordinated may be at a higher risk of obesity in later life.

In a study based on data involving more than 11,000 people in the on-going National Child Development Study in Great Britain, which began in 1958, researchers found that youngsters who performed least well in tests assessing cognitive and physical function, were far more likely to be obese at age 33.

Experts suggest it was likely such children shied away from sport and they say all children, regardless of their natural abilities, should be given adequate encouragement and support to be physically active at school and at home.

The study participants were assessed by teachers and medical officers at aged 7 and 11 for their ability in hand control, coordination and clumsiness, with tests which included copying a simple design to measure accuracy, marking squares on a paper within a minute, and the time in seconds it took to pick up 20 matches.

At age 33 the participants had their body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight) recorded and an analysis revealed that at age 7, poor coordination meant the risk of obesity was twice as high.

Poorer function was associated with obesity which puts people at a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

The researchers, a joint team from Imperial College London and Sweden's Orebro University Hospital, did not look at what was causing the link between obesity and clumsiness, but other experts predicted it could be related to the amount of sport youngsters went on to play.

They say poorly coordinated children may be less active, but also say the causes of obesity are subtle and complex.

The study adds to evidence of a link between poorer cognitive function in childhood and obesity and type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

The researchers say cognitive impairment in obese adults was assumed to be a consequence of obesity but the study indicates obese adults and those with type 2 diabetes may already have had lower levels of cognitive function in childhood 'consistent with a subtle developmental impairment'.

The research is published online by the British Medical Journal.