Abstract
Lack of physical fitness in obese people, recent decline in physical fitness of young people, and physical fitness problems of thin people are a concern. We investigated the physical fitness characteristics of different obese groups comprising young males with poor physical fitness. Technical college students (144 males; age, 15.9 ± 1.1 y; height, 169.1 ±5.9 cm; weight, 60.0 ±13.3 kg) took the physical fitness test of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and were judged to have lower than normal physical fitness in a comprehensive evaluation of the MEXT physical test. Three groups with different obesity levels were formed according to their percent body fat (%BF): thin ( 25%). The obese group had stronger grip than the thin and normal groups but was inferior to the thin group in 20-m shuttle run, standing broad jump, 50-m run, and total score. The test requiring large physical movements revealed that the obese group was inferior in power and endurance. Therefore, among young males with poor physical fitness, obese individuals have different physical fitness characteristics than thin and normal individuals; they are inferior to normal and thin individuals in running- and jumping-related power and endurance but superior in muscle strength.
Highlights
A marked decline in physical fitness of young people has been noted as a problem for more than 20 y
The physical fitness test of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) sets a judgment criterion for a comprehensive physical fitness based on the total score in each test (Five stages; A [highest] to E [lowest])
The thin group was faster in the 50-m run but had lower total scores than the obese group
Summary
A marked decline in physical fitness of young people has been noted as a problem for more than 20 y. Many studies were conducted on the decline in physical fitness due to physical inactivity, adiposity with an increased percent body fat (%BF), and the occurrence of lifestyle-related diseases (Beunen, Malina, Ostyn, Renson, Simons, & Van Gerven, 1983; Kim, Matsuura, Tanaka, & Inagaki, 1993). Much attention has been paid to the decline in physical fitness due to obesity. The causes for this decline have diversified and the number of young people with poor physical fitness and obese individuals are increasing. A low %BF in young people was not previously considered a problem because many of them exercised daily through club activities and had superior physical fitness
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