Assessment of children's physical fitness and school health in the province of San Luis, Argentina.

Abstract

Introduction. The assessment of physical fitness (PF), is useful strategy to know the current status of schoolchildren. Our primary objective was to measure the current health status and PF levels of schoolchildren in San Luis and to develop PF reference tables. Population and methods. Schoolchildren aged 9 to 12 years (boys and girls) were assessed based on 2 health indicators: body mass index and blood pressure. PF was measured using the ALPHA-Fitness test battery. Blood pressure, body mass, height, foot and hand length, standing long jump, 30 m sprint, 4 × 10 m agility test, and 20 m shuttle run test were assessed. The body mass index (BMI) and biological maturation were estimated. Results. A total of 15 548 schoolchildren were assessed. Average systolic blood pressure was 101 ± 10 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure, 66 ± 7 mmHg; BMI: 20.2 ± 4.3 kg/m 2 . Average PF was, in the cardiorespiratory component, VO2 max.: 39.87 ± 3.2 mL/kg/min and speed reached during the 20 m shuttle run test: 8.9 ± 0.6 km/h; in the musculoskeletal component, standing long jump: 120.6 ± 23.9 cm, 30 m sprint: 6.56 ± 0.85 s, 4 × 10 m agility test: 15.17 ± 1.82 s. The performance was better in the boys group (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Blood pressure was normal. Fifty percent of the sample was overweight or obese as per their BMI. Both boys and girls showed low PF levels. PF reference tables for schoolchildren from San Luis were developed for the first time.