Abstract
Physical fitness and body weight are key correlates of health. Nevertheless, an increasing number of children display poor physical fitness and high body weight. The aim of this study was to examine the prospective association of physical fitness with body weight throughout the elementary school years with a special emphasis on children with high body weight or poor physical fitness at baseline. A total of 303 Austrian children (55.1% male) completed the German motor test up to eight times over a 4-year time span (between the ages 6 and 10 years). Physical fitness did not differ across quartiles of body weight at baseline. A more pronounced weight gain, however, was associated with an impaired development of physical fitness and this association was more pronounced in children with higher baseline body weight. In addition, the detrimental effects of an impaired development of physical fitness on subsequent body weight were more pronounced in children with higher baseline body weight. No differences in the longitudinal association between body weight and physical fitness, on the other hand, were observed across quartiles of baseline fitness. These results emphasize the importance of the promotion of physical fitness, particularly in children with increased body weight, to ensure future health.
Highlights
Excess body weight is one of the major health risks in modern society due to the association with various non-communicable diseases [1,2]
This study showed that the inverse reciprocal longitudinal association between body weight and physical fitness was more pronounced in children with high body weight at young ages, whereas no differences in the prospective association between body weight and physical fitness were observed across quartiles of baseline physical fitness
The resulting lower engagement in various forms of physical activity reduces the opportunities for the development of physical fitness [48], which results in a vicious cycle of increased body weight, poor physical fitness, and low physical activity [49]
Summary
Excess body weight is one of the major health risks in modern society due to the association with various non-communicable diseases [1,2]. Overweight/obesity during childhood is associated with cardiovascular dysfunction and asthma [3–5], in addition to psychological problems including lower self-esteem, underachievement in school, and overall quality of life [6]. Physical fitness, which consists of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, and endurance, in addition to flexibility and body composition, is a critical marker of health [9]. Various components of physical fitness have been associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk, bone health, and psychological and cognitive outcomes, which contribute to an enhanced quality of life [9–13]. As physical fitness is defined as a person’s ability to perform daily tasks without undue fatigue and adequate energy to enjoy leisure-time pursuits [14], it should be considered a critical
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