Motor coordination in school-aged children with different nutritional statuses following a non-immersive virtual reality intervention.

The non-immersive virtual reality game protocol did not produce a significant effect on motor coordination between groups with different nutritional statuses.

• Repeated-measures ANOVA showed no significant effect between groups (p = 0.149, η²p = 0.149)
• The intervention was implemented over eight weeks in children aged 5 to 9 years from municipal public schools
• Fifty-six children from five schools completed the study, with a mean age of 6.86 ± 1.51 years; 26 were girls (46.42%)
• The study used a quasi-experimental design assessing socioeconomic, anthropometric, motor coordination, and sedentary behavior time data

Younger children demonstrated better motor coordination both at baseline and at post-intervention assessment.

• A negative Spearman correlation was observed between age and motor coordination at baseline (r = -0.627; p < 0.001)
• A negative Spearman correlation was also observed at post-intervention assessment (r = -0.538; p < 0.001)
• Both correlations were statistically significant at p < 0.001
• The negative direction of the correlation indicates that as age increased, motor coordination scores decreased within this sample

Sedentary behavior time did not differ significantly between children with different nutritional statuses.

• Welch's ANOVA revealed no significant difference in sedentary behavior time between groups (p = 0.568)
• Sedentary behavior time was described as 'high and similar among the children'
• Sedentary behavior time was one of the primary outcome measures assessed alongside motor coordination
• The similar levels of high sedentary behavior across groups suggest nutritional status did not differentiate sedentary patterns in this sample

Children with low motor coordination tend to engage in less physical activity, establishing a bidirectional relationship with weight gain.

• Low motor coordination is associated with reduced physical activity participation
• Weight gain may further restrict participation in physical activity, creating a bidirectional relationship
• The authors note that when opportunities for physical activity are enjoyable, the likelihood of children's engagement increases
• This relationship provided the theoretical basis for testing a virtual reality game-based intervention

The findings highlight the importance of public health strategies that provide regular and adequate motor stimulation during childhood.

• High sedentary behavior time was observed across all nutritional status groups
• The intervention was delivered in municipal public schools targeting children aged 5 to 9 years
• The authors concluded that regular and adequate motor stimulation during childhood is a public health priority
• The quasi-experimental study design without randomization was a methodological characteristic of the study