Levels Of Physical Fitness As Predictors Of Overweight And Obesity In Rural Youth

Abstract

There has been a worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents with a subsequent increase in the prevalence of obesity-associated morbidities. Several studies have suggested a decrease in physical fitness among young people. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the risk of a young person to present a high or very high percentage of body fat (%BF) high, when his/her level of physical fitness is below the healthy fitness zone (HFZ). METHODS: The sample of this study consisted of 91% of a school population from a rural area of Madeira Island, Portugal, totalling 790 children and adolescents of both genders, aged between 10 and 17 years of age. Percentage body fat (%BF) was estimated by measuring skinfolds and Slaughter et al. (1988) equations, classified in categories according to Lohman (1987). Physical fitness was assessed with the Fitnessgram test battery (Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research, 2002). RESULTS: Of the 5 fitness tests, all of them except for the seat-and-reach test, were found predictors of a high or very high %BF when the scores were below the HFZ. The risk was higher for the Pacer test (OR=3.65, CI 95%: 2.50 - 5.35), followed by push-ups test (OR=1.62, CI95%: 1.11-2.37), and the curl-ups test (OR=1.61, CI 95%: 1.08-2.39). CONCLUSIONS: The subjects falling below the HFZ have a higher risk of high or very high %BF when compared with their peers classified in or above the HFZ. The risk was higher for the Pacer, curl-ups and push-ups tests.