Relationships Between Adiposity And Aahperd Health-related Physical Fitness Measurements In Children: A Longitudinal Perspective

Abstract

An ongoing concern is adiposity in children. However, little is known about longitudinal changes in the relationships between adiposity and other health-related physical fitness (HRPF) measurements in children. PURPOSE: To examine yearly gender-specific changes in relationships between adiposity and other HRPF measurements from kindergarten to fifth grade. METHODS: As part of the regular physical education program of a single school district, AAHPERD HRPF test data were annually collected from years 1988 - 2005. We included children, ages 5 or 6 yrs at baseline (mean + SD = 6.2 + 0.3 yrs), who were tested in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades and had complete sum of skinfolds (SSK, triceps + medial calf) data. Data were retained listwise for each of four other HRPF variables, including: 1-mile run/walk (MRW), 1-min bent-knee sit-ups (SU), double-leg sit-and-reach (SR), and pull-ups (PU). In separate gender analyses, Spearman rho correlation coefficients were calculated for the relationships between SSK and each of the other HRPF variables at all grades. The P-value was set at 0.01. RESULTS: Correlations between SSK and other HRPF tests are reported at grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as follows: Boys: MRW (n = 256):.25,.31,.37,.46,.45,.57; SU (n =308): -.11, -.05, -.15, -.20, -.21,-.26; SR (n = 224): -.02,.05, -.03, -.03,-.05, -.03; and PU (n = 267): -.25, -.36, -.36, -.47, -.54, -.58; Girls: MRW (n = 256):.19,.22,.37,.32,.41,.44; SU (n = 301): -.01, -.19, -.32, -.24, -.29, -.32; SR (n = 211): -.13,-.07, -.16, -.16, -.10, -.15; and PU (n = 261): -.39, -.35, -.46, -.54, -.53, -.48. For both genders, significant relationships were found between SSK and MRW, as well as SSK and PU for all grades. Significant relationships were found between SSK and SU at all grades, except K and 1 for boys and K for girls. There were no significant relationships between SSK and SR at any grade for either gender. CONCLUSION: For both genders, higher adiposity tends to be related to poorer MRW and PU performance across all elementary grades. The strength of these associations, although weak-to-moderate, generally increases as children progress from the primary to upper- elementary grades. Higher adiposity is also weakly related to poorer SU performance in children by the late primary grades. Adiposity is not related to SR performance at any grade.