Abstract
Obesity has been associated with several alterations that could limit physical activity (PA) practice. In pediatrics, some studies have highlighted the importance of enjoyment as a motivation to begin and maintain adherence in PA. Since self-reported physical (SRPF) fitness was related to motivation, the aim of this study was to investigate the existence of differences between SRPF in children with obesity (OB) compared to normal weight (NW). The International Fitness Enjoyment Scale (IFIS) questionnaire was administered to 200 OB and 200 NW children. In all the subjects, height, weight, and BMI and in OB children adiposity indexes including waist circumference (WC), body shape index (ABSI), triponderal mass index (TMI), and fat mass were measured. NW group showed higher IFIS item scores than the OB group (p < 0.01), except in muscular strength. In OB, the anthropometric outcomes were inversely correlated to SRPF outcome except for muscular strength. OB children reported a lower perception of fitness that could limit participation in PA/exercise programs. The evaluation of anthropometric patterns may be useful to prescribe a tailored exercise program considering individual better self-perception outcomes to obtain an optimal PA adherence.
Highlights
The patients were asked to participate in the study during a 50-min pediatric specialistic visit and an International Fitness Enjoyment Scale (IFIS) questionnaire was administered by both pediatricians and sports specialists
A significative difference (p < 0.001 between OB and normal weight (NW) groups were noted in height (p = 0.000), weight (p = 0.000), BMI p = 0.000), and BMI Z-score (p = 0.000), both in males and females
We investigated the existence of differences between self-reported physical fitness (SRPF) in children with obesity compared to normal weight subjects and we explored the extent of alignment between
Summary
Obesity is defined as a condition characterized by an excessive fat accumulation that has negative health consequences [1,2]. Childhood obesity is a grave public health concern with increasing prevalence all over the world with long-term medical, social, and economic consequences [1]. According to the World Health Organization report, the global prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 5–19 has risen from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016 [2]. In 2016, more than 340 million children and adolescents worldwide were in a condition of excess body weight [2]. The excess of weight during childhood caused by sedentary habits and unhealthy lifestyle led to increased risk of metabolic and
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