Abstract
Physical fitness encompasses health-related fitness (HRF) variables which may reduce cardiovascular risk factors if identified early in youths. PURPOSE: To compare HRF variables between youths in Singapore (SGP) and Hong Kong (HK). METHODS: A total of 1559 youths from SGP (age: 13.49 ± 1.21 years, height: 159.76 ± 8.94 cm, weight: 51.91 ± 13.38 kg, Body Fat (BF) %: 21.51 ± 10.25 %) and 1530 youths from HK (age: 13.51 ± 0.98 years, height: 160.69 ± 8.40 cm, weight: 52.20 ± 12.43 kg, BF%: 21.16 ± 9.99 %) participated in this study. Body Mass Index (BMI) and BF% were measured by bio-electric impedance analysis. Cardiovascular fitness, lower limb flexibility, arm strength, abdominal endurance were tested using the 15m youth Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test (PACER), one-legged sit-and-reach test for both legs (SRT), handgrip strength test for both hands (HS), and 1-minute sit-up test (SUT) respectively. RESULTS: Using the Independent T-Test, significant differences were found between SGP and HK youths for height (SGP: 159.76 ± 8.94 cm, HK: 160.69 ± 8.40 cm, p < 0.0005), SRT (SGP: 54.14 ± 10.15 cm, HK: 49.59 ± 12.04 cm, p < 0.0005), HS (SGP: 25.18 ± 7.77 kg, HK: 26.01 ± 6.96 kg, p = 0.002), SUT (SGP: 38.94 ± 11.92, HK: 30.56 ± 10.14, p < 0.0005) and PACER (SGP: 40.93 ± 23.90 laps, HK: 35.49 ± 18.44 laps, p < 0.0005). There were no significant differences in weight, BMI, and BF% between youths in both countries, with low obesity rates in both countries (SGP: 12.7%, HK: 10.32%). CONCLUSION: Results indicated similar body composition results in both countries. SGP youths had lesser arm strength as compared to HK youths. However, SGP youths had higher abdominal endurance, better flexibility and were more aerobically fit as compared to HK youths. Both SGP and HK youths need to maintain their physical activities to improve their cardiovascular fitness as this will help to reduce cardiovascular diseases in youths in the future.
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