Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the effect of play frequency and exercise when at preschool and childhood ages on the exercise habits and physical fitness of those who are currently adolescents. Healthy young men (N = 600) from 15 to 21 years old (age: 16.5 ± 1.2 years, height: 171.1 ± 5.7 cm, body mass: 61.0 ± 10.0 kg) participated in the physical fitness test of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) after answering questions about current exercise habits and frequency of play and exercise at their preschool and childhood ages. Significant relationships among frequency of play at preschool age and exercise in childhood and current exercise habits (Cramerâs V = 0.10â0.15, p < 0.028) were observed. Although no significant difference was found in the physique among the four groups, which differed in the frequency of play and exercise in early childhood and childhood, performance on the 50-m dash, standing long jump, handball throw, and 20-m shuttle run were significantly superior in groups with higher frequency of play and exercise. The present results may indicate that frequency of play at preschool age and exercise in childhood significantly affects subsequent exercise habits and physical fitness levels.
Highlights
Children today may be deprived of outdoor environments where they can play
Results show a significant relationship between frequency of play at preschool age and exercise in childhood with present exercise habits (Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3)
The amount of physical activity at preschool age and during childhood relates to subsequent exercise habits
Summary
Children today may be deprived of outdoor environments where they can play. Evidence regarding the morbidity and mortality of adults who hardly exercised as children is very scarce, but morbidity and mortality in adulthood may decrease if childhood exercise habits are favorable [6]. Pälve et al examined long-term effects of physical activity on carotid artery elasticity after 21 years of follow up with children and young adults [7]. They reported that physical activity in boys and young adults was associated with carotid artery elasticity in later life. Evidence supporting the notion that childhood physical activity relates to future health status has been emerging
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