DCU-led research finds obesity has heavy impact on motor skills

Research carried out by the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU has found that obese adults are physically inactive because of a lack of the co-ordination needed to perform simple tasks such as tying their shoelace or fastening a shirt button.

The findings, which were presented last week at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Dublin, suggest inactivity may not be a cause of obesity, but instead a result of poor motor skills associated with the condition. The work changes perceptions about inactivity in obese people as well as improving their quality of life.

The research team, which was led by Dr Johann Issartel, carried out motor-skills tests on 43 patients and found that the obese participants performed two to three times worse than those with a normal BMI – at a level similar to children aged 10 to 12.

To read articles about this research in the media, visit

Sciencedaily.com http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150518191602.htm

Dailymail.co.uk http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3087111/How-food-fat-fingers-Overweight-worse-hand-eye-coordination-poor-motor-skills.html