Abstract. The nutritional status of children is an important indicator of their physical and motor development, as well as one of the factors that affects their morpho-motoric status. The aim of this study was to determine differences in morphological characteristics and motor abilities in nine-year-old girls with varying degrees of nutritional status. The research was conducted on a sample of 89 third grade elementary school students in Niš, aged 9.01 ± 0.28. Based on the BMI, three sub- samples were formed (normal weight, overweight and obese participants). Morphological status was determined by measuring the parameters of longitudinal, transversal and circular dimensionality, body weight and subcutaneous fatty tissue. Motor abilities (explosive strength, coordination and speed) were determined by a battery of nine tests. Differences in morphological and motor variables were determined by using MANOVA/ANOVA and LSD Post Hoc test. The results indicate that, in regards to the BMI, there are significant differences in morpho-motoric status in nine-year-old girls. Higher values of morphological characteristics, but also a lower level of explosive strength, speed and coordination were recorded in overweight and obese participants.Key words: nutritional status, morphological characteristic, motor abilities, differences, girls
