scholarly journals Reference standards to assess physical fitness of children and adolescents of Brazil: an approach to the students of the Lake Itaipú region—Brazil

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e4032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edilson Hobold ◽  
Vitor Pires-Lopes ◽  
Rossana Gómez-Campos ◽  
Miguel de Arruda ◽  
Cynthia Lee Andruske ◽  
...  

Background The importance of assessing body fat variables and physical fitness tests plays an important role in monitoring the level of activity and physical fitness of the general population. The objective of this study was to develop reference norms to evaluate the physical fitness aptitudes of children and adolescents based on age and sex from the lake region of Itaipú, Brazil. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 5,962 students (2,938 males and 3,024 females) with an age range of 6.0 and 17.9 years. Weight (kg), height (cm), and triceps (mm), and sub-scapular skinfolds (mm) were measured. Body Mass Index (BMI kg/m2) was calculated. To evaluate the four physical fitness aptitude dimensions (morphological, muscular strength, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory), the following physical education tests were given to the students: sit-and-reach (cm), push-ups (rep), standing long jump (cm), and 20-m shuttle run (m). Results and Discussion Females showed greater flexibility in the sit-and-reach test and greater body fat than the males. No differences were found in BMI. Percentiles were created for the four components for the physical fitness aptitudes, BMI, and skinfolds by using the LMS method based on age and sex. The proposed reference values may be used for detecting talents and promoting health in children and adolescents.

Author(s):  
Edilson Hobold ◽  
Vitor Pires-Lopes ◽  
Rossana Gomez-Campos ◽  
Miguel Arruda ◽  
Cynthia Lee Andruske ◽  
...  

Background.The importance of assessing body fat variables and physical fitness tests play an important role in monitoring the level of activity and physical fitness of the general population. The objective of this study was to develop reference norms to evaluate the physical fitness aptitudes of children and adolescents based on age and sex from the lake region of Itaipú, Brazil. Methods.A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 5,962 students (2938 males and 3,024 females) with an age range of 6.0 and 17.9 years. Weight (kg), height (cm), and triceps (mm), and sub-scapular skinfolds (mm) were measured. Body Mass Index (BMI kg/m2) was calculated. To evaluate the 4 physical fitness aptitude dimensions (morphological, muscular strength, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory), the following physical education tests were given to the students: sit-and-reach (cm), push-ups (rep), standing long jump (cm), and 20-m shuttle run (m). Results and Discussion.Females showed greater flexibility in the sit-and-reach test and greater body fat than the males. No differences were found in BMI. Percentiles were created for the 4 components for the physical fitness aptitudes, BMI, and skinfolds by using the LMS method based on age and sex. The proposed reference values may be used for detecting talents and promoting health in children and adolescents.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edilson Hobold ◽  
Vitor Pires-Lopes ◽  
Rossana Gomez-Campos ◽  
Miguel Arruda ◽  
Cynthia Lee Andruske ◽  
...  

Background.The importance of assessing body fat variables and physical fitness tests play an important role in monitoring the level of activity and physical fitness of the general population. The objective of this study was to develop reference norms to evaluate the physical fitness aptitudes of children and adolescents based on age and sex from the lake region of Itaipú, Brazil. Methods.A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 5,962 students (2938 males and 3,024 females) with an age range of 6.0 and 17.9 years. Weight (kg), height (cm), and triceps (mm), and sub-scapular skinfolds (mm) were measured. Body Mass Index (BMI kg/m2) was calculated. To evaluate the 4 physical fitness aptitude dimensions (morphological, muscular strength, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory), the following physical education tests were given to the students: sit-and-reach (cm), push-ups (rep), standing long jump (cm), and 20-m shuttle run (m). Results and Discussion.Females showed greater flexibility in the sit-and-reach test and greater body fat than the males. No differences were found in BMI. Percentiles were created for the 4 components for the physical fitness aptitudes, BMI, and skinfolds by using the LMS method based on age and sex. The proposed reference values may be used for detecting talents and promoting health in children and adolescents.


Author(s):  
Zvonar ◽  
Kasović ◽  
Štefan

Background: The main aim of the study was to explore the association between objectively measured physical fitness and the level of pain intensity. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 1036 adolescents (mage ± SD = 16.3 ± 1.1 years; mheight ± SD = 1.74 ± 0.1 m; mweight ± SD = 64.7 ± 12.4 kg; mbody-mass index ± SD = 21.3 ± 3.0 kg/m2) from 11 secondary schools located in the city of Zagreb (Croatia). Physical fitness was determined by using waist circumference, sit-ups in 1 min, standing long jump and sit-and-reach tests. Overall physical fitness index was calculated by summing the z-score values of each physical fitness test. The level of pain intensity was assessed with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, a one-dimensional measure of pain intensity. Associations were calculated with correlation analyses. Results: In boys, pain intensity was associated with sit-ups in 1 min (r = −0.16, p < 0.001), standing long jump (r = −0.14, p = 0.003) and overall physical fitness index (r = −0.13, p = 0.004), while no significant associations with waist circumference (r = 0.04, p = 0.438) and sit-and-reach test (r = −0.01, p = 0.822) were observed. In girls, pain intensity was associated with standing long jump (r = −0.17, p < 0.001) and overall physical fitness index (r = −0.10, p = 0.018), while no significant associations with waist circumference (r = 0.01, p = 0.735), sit-ups in 1 min (r = −0.06, p = 0.126) and sit-and-reach test (r = −0.05, p = 0.232) were observed. When we adjusted for self-rated health, sleep duration, smoking status, alcohol consumption, screen-time and psychological distress, similar associations remained. Conclusions: Our study shows a weak association between physical fitness and pain intensity in a large sample of adolescents. Although a cross-sectional design, health-professionals should use physical fitness as a screening tool to assess the level of pain intensity.


2011 ◽  
Vol 105 (12) ◽  
pp. 1832-1842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne E. Arsenault ◽  
Mercedes Mora-Plazas ◽  
Yibby Forero ◽  
Sandra Lopez-Arana ◽  
Germán Jáuregui ◽  
...  

Poor physical fitness is associated with increased health-related risks in children. The association of nutritional status indicators and physical fitness in children residing in developing countries is not well characterised. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1945 children of age 5–12 years in Bogotá, Colombia, to assess whether anthropometric and micronutrient status indicators were associated with performance in the shuttle run and standing long jump tests. Stunted children scored significantly lower in the run (0·4 s; P = 0·0002) and jump (6 cm; boys only; P = 0·003) tests than non-stunted children, after adjustment for age and other factors. Children who were thin, overweight or obese ran slower than normal-weight children (P < 0·01). Lower jump scores were associated with overweight or obesity and greater arm fat area in boys only (P < 0·0001). Girls with low ferritin concentrations ran 0·6 s slower than girls with normal ferritin concentrations (P = 0·02). Erythrocyte folate concentrations were linearly related to higher run (P < 0·0001) and long jump scores (P = 0·0001). Boys with marginal or low vitamin B12 status had 4 cm lower long jump scores than children with normal status (P = 0·01). Suboptimal anthropometric and micronutrient status are related to poorer performance in fitness tests. The effects of improving nutritional status on physical fitness of children warrant investigation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurien M Disseldorp ◽  
Leonora J Mouton ◽  
Tim Takken ◽  
Marco Van Brussel ◽  
Gerard IJM Beerthuizen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Martin Zvonar ◽  
Mario Kasović ◽  
Lovro Štefan

Background. The main purpose of this study was to explore the body-mass index and waist circumference associated with physical fitness by gender. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we included 1036 adolescents (55.4% girls) from eight randomly selected secondary schools within the city of Zagreb (Croatia). Body-mass index and waist circumference were objectively measured. Physical fitness included three tests: (1) 1 min sit-ups, (2) standing long jump and (3) a sit-and-reach test. Associations were calculated using linear regression models. Results. Boys had higher body-mass index and waist circumference values, compared to girls (p < 0.001). They also performed better in 1 min sit-ups and the standing long jump tests (p < 0.001), while girls obtained higher values in the sit-and-reach test (p < 0.001). In boys, body-mass index and waist circumference were associated with 1 min sit-ups and the standing long jump. In girls, waist circumference was also associated with 1 min sit-ups and the standing long jump, while body-mass index was only associated with this standing long jump. Conclusions. Our study shows that anthropometric indices have non-linear associations with physical fitness tests in a large sample of Croatian adolescents. Screening for thinness and obesity to predict the level of physical fitness should be of a great interest.


2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 877-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thelma Leite de Araujo ◽  
Marcos Venicíos de Oliveira Lopes ◽  
Nirla Gomes Guedes ◽  
Tahissa Frota Cavalcante ◽  
Rafaella Pessoa Moreira ◽  
...  

The goal of this study was to measure the arm circumferences (AC) and appropriated cuff sizes for children and adolescents and to relate these dimensions to specific age ranges. This is a cross-sectional study, developed in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, with 596 people between 6 and 17 years old. The AC was measured at the midpoint between the olecranon and the acromion. The selected cuff width followed the recommended ratio of 40% the AC. The more suitable cuff sizes were 7×14 cm, 8×16 cm and 9×18 cm, at 19.8%, 26.5% and 25%, respectively. A statistically significant association between AC and age range was found in both genders, as well as between the cuff and the age range, showing that the 7×14 cm (38.9%) and 8×16 cm (29.6%) cuffs were more suitable for children, and 8×16 cm (23.7%) and 9×18 cm (36.1 %) cuffs were better for adolescents. Adequate cuffs were concluded to be different from the standard cuffs used for children and adolescents.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson Marques de Moraes ◽  
Ezequiel Moreira Gonçalves ◽  
Vinicius Justino de Oliveira Barbeta ◽  
Gil Guerra-Júnior

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2005-2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Craig ◽  
John Reilly ◽  
Ruth Bland

AbstractObjectiveA variety of methods are available for defining undernutrition (thinness/underweight/under-fat) and overnutrition (overweight/obesity/over-fat). The extent to which these definitions agree is unclear. The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess agreement between widely used methods of assessing nutritional status in children and adolescents, and to examine the benefit of body composition estimates.DesignThe main objective of the cross-sectional study was to assess underweight, overweight and obesity using four methods: (i) BMI-for-age using WHO (2007) reference data; (ii) BMI-for-age using Cole et al. and International Obesity Taskforce cut-offs; (iii) weight-for-age using the National Centre for Health Statistics/WHO growth reference 1977; and (iv) body fat percentage estimated by bio-impedance (body fat reference curves for children of McCarthy et al., 2006). Comparisons were made between methods using weighted kappa analyses.SettingRural South Africa.SubjectsIndividuals (n 1519) in three age groups (school grade 1, mean age 7 years; grade 5, mean age 11 years; grade 9, mean age 15 years).ResultsIn boys, prevalence of unhealthy weight status (both under- and overnutrition) was much higher at all ages with body fatness measures than with simple anthropometric proxies for body fatness; agreement between fatness and weight-based measures was fair or slight using Landis and Koch categories. In girls, prevalence of unhealthy weight status was also higher with body fatness than with proxies, although agreement between measures ranged from fair to substantial.ConclusionsMethods for defining under- and overnutrition should not be considered equivalent. Weight-based measures provide highly conservative estimates of unhealthy weight status, possibly more conservative in boys. Simple body composition measures may be more informative than anthropometry for nutritional surveillance of children and adolescents.


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