The aim of this research was to determine whether there is a connection between anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities in normal and overweight seven year old girls. The sample consisted of 75 first grade girl students of elementary schools in the town of Niš, which were classified based on their BMI values in normal weight group (N = 47) and overweight group (N = 28).Anthropometric characteristics were determined by measuring 16 parameters of longitudinal, transversal, circular dimensionality and body mass, and subcutaneous fatty tissue by measuring skin fold thickness. For the assessment of motor abilities (explosive strength, coordination and speed), a battery of nine tests was applied. Relations between anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities were assessed by canonical correlation analysis. The results indicate that the correlations were statistically significant only in the group of overweight children (p = 0.00), and defined by three pairs of canonical factors. Factors of canonical correlation between anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities in a group of overweight girls indicate that body voluminosity and subcutaneous fatty tissue hinder the realization of motor tasks that require lifting or transferring body mass, while higher parameter values of longitudinal dimensionality contribute to a better performance in explosive strength of arms and legs, but impair coordinatio
