Normative health-related fitness values for French children: The Diagnoform Programme.

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to establish sex- and age-specific physical fitness percentiles for French children. The secondary aim was to assess sex, weight status, and age differences for physical fitness levels in French children. A sample of 31484 children (16023 boys, 15461 girls) aged 6-11years participated in the Diagnoform programme. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, speed, flexibility, and agility were assessed in this national programme. Percentile values were estimated as a function of age stratified by sex using a parametric method providing smooth centile curves and explicit formulae for the centile estimates. Values from the 10th to the 90th percentile are reported. The influence of body weight according to sex on the physical fitness level was also examined using an analysis of covariance adjusted for age. Physical fitness levels were slightly better in boys, except for agility and flexibility, in which girls performed better (Cohen's coefficient, 0.20-0.45; P<.001). All physical fitness tests were significantly associated with age (P<.0001). In general, overweight and obese children had a significantly poorer physical fitness level compared with their normal-weight counterparts (P<.05). No difference was found between thin and normal-weight boys and girls, except for agility (P<.05). Reference values provide normative data for French children, and these data should be useful for identifying special needs for appropriate intervention programmes.