scholarly journals The association between physical fitness and health in a nationally representative sample of Canadian children and youth aged 6 to 17 years

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin J. Lang ◽  
Richard Larouche ◽  
Mark S. Tremblay

Introduction This study explored the relationship between physical fitness and indicators of physical and psychosocial health in a nationally representative sample of Canadian children and youth aged 6–17 years. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis of Canadian Health Measures Survey (Cycles 1 and 2; 2007-2011) data. The physical fitness measures included cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test), strength (handgrip strength), flexibility (sit-and-reach), and muscular endurance (partial curl-ups). The physical health indicators included directly measured biomarkers (total and HDL [high-density lipoprotein] cholesterol, C-reactive protein, glucose, and HbA1c [glycohaemoglobin]) and measures of adiposity, resting heart rate, and blood pressure. Psychosocial health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the association between variables, stratified by age groups and sex. Results 3,800 (48.9% female) children and youth were retained for this analysis. CRF displayed significant favourable associations with most physical health indicators in male and female participants. There were less significant favourable associations with flexibility and muscular endurance compared with CRF across age and sex groups. Strength was associated with higher adiposity in males and females, and lower heart rate in male children (β = −1.9; 95% CI: −2.9, −1.0) and female youth (β = −2.0; 95% CI: −2.7, −1.2). There were few significant favourable associations between measures of physical fitness and psychosocial health in this sample of children and youth. Conclusion These findings suggest that physical fitness, and especially CRF, is a significant indicator of physical health among Canadian children and youth aged 6–17 years.

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (s2) ◽  
pp. S284-S290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Delisle Nyström ◽  
Christel Larsson ◽  
Bettina Ehrenblad ◽  
Hanna Eneroth ◽  
Ulf Eriksson ◽  
...  

Background:The 2016 Swedish Report Card on Physical Activity (PA) for Children and Youth is a unique compilation of the existing physical and health related data in Sweden. The aim of this article is to summarize the procedure and results from the report card.Methods:Nationally representative surveys and individual studies published between 2005–2015 were included. Eleven PA and health indicators were graded using the Active Healthy Kids Canada grading system. Grades were assigned based on the percentage of children/youth meeting a defined benchmark (A: 81% to 100%, B: 61% to 80%, C: 41% to 60%, D: 21% to 40%, F: 0% to 20%, or incomplete (INC).Results:The assigned grades were Overall Physical Activity, D; Organized Sport Participation, B+; Active Play, INC; Active Transportation, C+; Sedentary Behaviors, C; Family and Peers, INC; School, C+; Community and the Built Environment, B; Government Strategies and Investments, B; Diet, C-; and Obesity, D.Conclusions:The included data provides some support that overall PA is too low and sedentary behavior is too high for almost all age groups in Sweden, even with the many national policies as well as an environment that is favorable to the promotion of PA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan ◽  
David Finkelhor

The present study sought to examine features of sexual abuse cases among a U.S. nationally representative sample of 13,052 children and adolescents, ages 0–17 years. The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence was collected in three different years (2008, 2011, and 2014) via telephone interviews. Information about sexual abuse and assault was obtained from youth themselves (ages 10–17) or caregivers (for children ages 0–9) using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. Results indicate most offenses are at the hands of other juveniles (76.7% for males and 70.1% for females), primarily acquaintances, and occurring more frequently for adolescents aged 14–17. Whereas girls are mostly abused by males (88.4%), boys are abused by both males (45.6%) and females (54.4%). In 15% of cases, penetration is part of the abuse. Victims report being very afraid in 37.5% of episodes but not at all afraid in 19.8%. Among 10- to 17-year-olds, 66.3% of episodes are not reported to parents or any adult. Police reports occur for 19.1% of all cases. The results in the present study indicate that children and youth are exposed to sexual abuse and assault in varied ways, which require moving beyond conventional stereotypes of the problem.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (T4) ◽  
pp. 101-105
Author(s):  
Nurvita Risdiana ◽  
Syahruramdhani Syahruramdhani ◽  
Armain Suwitno

BACKGROUND: Physical fitness level (PFL), heart rate (HR), and HR recovery (HRR1) were expressed the physical performance of an individual which can be the excellent indicators of health. That parameter differentiates the physical condition between a smoker and a non-smoker. At present, studies about them for adolescent smokers and non-smokers are still limited. Furthermore, they can be the prediction of the health indicators in the future. AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the PFL, HR, and HRR between adolescent smokers and non-smokers METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted by non-experimental and quantitative research with descriptive comparative design and cross-sectional approach. Mann–Whitney test used to describe the distinction between the PFL of students who are adolescent smokers and adolescent non-smokers. The sample data consist of 65 participants selected by purposive sampling collected using Harvard step test and manual HR measurement. RESULTS: After gathered data, we concluded that the PFL of adolescent non-smokers in our samples was significantly higher than smokers with recorded results of p = 0.001 (p < 0.05); HR1, HR60, HR90, and HR180 in adolescent smokers were higher than non-smokers with p = 0.00 (p < 0.05); there were no differences between HRR1 in adolescent smokers and non-smokers with p = 0.042 (p > 0.05). Smoking had effects on PFL and HR. CONCLUSION: The PFL and HR in adolescent non-smokers were better than in smokers but it had no effect on HRR1.


2018 ◽  
Vol 236 ◽  
pp. 1063-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie A.E. Young ◽  
Emily C. Hannum

AbstractIn recent decades, China has transformed from a relatively egalitarian society to a highly unequal one. What are the implications of high levels of inequality for the lives of children? Drawing on two nationally representative datasets, the China Family Panel Studies and the China Education Panel Survey, we develop a comprehensive portrait of childhood inequality in post-reform China. Analyses reveal stark disparities between children from different socio-economic backgrounds in family environments and in welfare outcomes, including physical health, psychosocial health and educational performance. We argue that childhood inequality in China is driven not only by the deprivations of poverty but also by the advantages of affluence, as high socio-economic status children diverge from their middle and low socio-economic status counterparts on various family environment and child welfare measures.


1994 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert W. Marsh

Physical activity measures for a large, nationally representative sample of Australian boys and girls aged 9, 12, and 15 were related to multiple dimensions of physical fitness. Physical activity during a one-week period was only modestly related to physical fitness. However, relations tended to be higher for length of time multiplied by METs (METs - minday1) than for time alone, time multiplied by perceived effort, or METs - min day−1 multiplied by effort, whereas time multiplied by effort did no better than time alone. Relations tended to be nonlinear in that progressively higher levels of activity had less positive associations with physical fitness. The pattern and size of the relations were consistent across scores for boys and girls aged 9 to 15. Self-report measures of typical and recent (within one week) physical activity both contributed to the prediction of physical fitness, indicating that both aspects of physical activity are important.


2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 320-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie V Grant ◽  
Alexa L Bagnell ◽  
Christine T Chambers ◽  
Sherry H Stewart

Objective: To investigate the contribution of early childhood temperamental constructs corresponding to 2 subtypes of general negative emotionality—fearful distress (unadaptable temperament) and irritable distress (fussy–difficult temperament)—to later anxiety in a nationally representative sample. Method: Using multiple linear regression analyses, we tested the hypothesis that caregiver-reported child unadaptable temperament and fussy–difficult temperament scales of children aged 2 to 3 years (in 1995) would prospectively predict caregiver-reported child anxiety symptoms at ages 4 to 5, 6 to 7, 8 to 9, and 10 to 11 years, and child-reported anxiety at 10 to 11 years (controlling for sex, age, and socioeconomic status) in a nationally representative sample from Statistics Canada's National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (initial weighted n = 768 600). Results: Only fussy–difficult temperament predicted anxiety in children aged 6 to 7 years. In separate regressions, unadaptable temperament and fussy–difficult temperament each predicted anxiety at 8 to 9 years, but when both were entered simultaneously, only unadaptable temperament remained a marginal predictor. Temperament did not significantly predict caregiver- or child-reported anxiety at 10 to 11 years, suggesting that as children age, environmental factors may become more important contributors to anxiety than early temperament. Conclusion: Our results provide the first demonstration that early temperament is related to later childhood anxiety in a nationally representative sample.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Augusto Santos Silva ◽  
Tiago Rodrigues de Lima ◽  
Mark Stephen Tremblay

The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between health-related physical fitness components (aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and body fat) and resting heart rate (RHR) in Brazilian adolescents. The study included 695 schoolchildren (14–19 years) from public schools of the city of São José, Brazil. RHR was evaluated using an automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test; muscle strength was measured by handgrip dynamometer; flexibility was assessed by the sit-and-reach test; and body fat was assessed indirectly by sum of two skinfold thicknesses (triceps and subscapular). Sociodemographic variables, habitual physical activity, sexual maturation, and body mass index were the covariates. Cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -0.11; 95%CI: -0.14, -0.08) and handgrip strength (β = -0.10; 95%CI: -0.18, -0.01) were inversely associated with RHR in boys. For girls, cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -0.09; 95%CI: -0.12, -0.06) was inversely associated with RHR. In both sexes, body fat (β = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.25, 0.75 for boys; β = 0.17; 95%CI: 0.36, 2.72 for girls) was directly associated with RHR. The RHR is measured more easily than the physical fitness tests, so it is recommended to assess adolescent’s heath in large surveillance systems.


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