PEDIATRICS

Body Image and It’s Role in Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

By Cassidy Foley Davelaar, DO, FAAP, CAQSM INTRODUCTION The benefits of youth sports participation are numerous and uncontested. Motor competence in children is positively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance and a healthy weight status. Research has proven that children who play sports are more likely to incorporate health and fitness into their adolescent lives. In addition to their physical benefits, sports should be fun, and the exercises involved in participation should assist in the development of movement skills. Despite the benefits of developing motor competence at a young age, 70% of children will drop out of sports by age 13 years. By age 14 years, girls drop out of sports at a rate two times greater than that of boys “Not fun” followed by “not good enough” are often cited as top reasons for sports attrition. However, diving deeper into the literature, “fun” and “not good enough” are very subjective and are packed with deeper meaning. A better understanding of the motivation involved in youth sports attrition may assist in keeping our youth in sports and more physically fit. My unique perspective as a double-board certified pediatric sports medicine doctor and a Division I college athlete allows me to see children who fall behind in their gross motor skill from both a pediatrician’s and an athlete’s perspective. I am passionate about getting kids active – especially female athletes – and preventing sports attrition. I have made fundamental movement skills and physical literacy the focus of my research. I have also treated the youngest athletes in my clinic and on the tennis courts as a medical provider for the United States Tennis Association. This topic is of utmost importance now, especially in the wake of Covid-19 and childhood inactivity and obesity. I believe by fostering early activity, exposure to fundamental movement skills and free play, we can improve not only the development of elite athletes but improve the health of our adolescent communities. WHAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS?

Fundamental movement skills are movements that are the building blocks for more complex physical activities like sports. Examples of these skills include object control skills (throwing, kicking, striking, catching, underhand rolling, and dribbling) and locomotor skills (running, hopping, jumping, sliding, leaping, and galloping). The acquisition and gradual mastery of these skills lead to the development of physical literacy. WHAT IS PHYSICAL LITERACY?

Physical literacy is the ability to put movements together into more complex activities, like participation in sports. Somewhat similar to academic literacy, physical literacy is important to the motor development and the physical, cognitive and social growth of children. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO INTRODUCE SPORTS? Before the age of 6 or 7, children have an inflated perception of their physical abilities. This is the best time to introduce them to a variety of activities and to invest time in the participation of physical activities. IS IT BEST TO PLAY ONE SPORT OR MULTIPLE? A variety of movements are beneficial. Fundamental movement skills include locomotor skills like running and object control skills like throwing or catching. The more skills children are exposed to the more likely they are to be comfortable with those skills in the future. As children age, they become more aware of their skill level and are more likely to participate in what they feel they are competent in doing. WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION? In addition to encouraging participation at a young age, speaking to children in a positive way regarding their abilities and their appearance is influential in their perception of their skills. Lastly, reintegration of adolescents into physical activity is possible through education of the benefits of exercise. The pressure “look like an athlete” or have the stereotypical physique is a large deterrent from participation. Avoiding mirrors, posters, comparisons and pressure to appear a certain way will benefit these adolescents. Weight training programs also appear to be more successful.

Call (407) 650-7715 to refer a patient to Dr. Foley Davelaar.

Reference articles information available upon request

Cassidy Foley Davelaar, DO, FAAP, CAQSM is a Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital trained sports medicine and pediatric orthopedic physician and a member of the orthopedics and sports medicine team at Nemours Children’s Health. She is an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and has authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals on topics including young athletes, overuse injuries, injury prevention and concussion management. Prior to Nemours, Dr. Foley Davelaar served as a physician for the Atlanta Ballet, the Boston Ballet, the U.S. Figure Skating Association, the Boston Marathon and several high schools. She has worked closely with the Boston Conservatory of the Arts, Trinity College and Northeastern University and was a varsity athlete at Columbia University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. 