TRACKING OF HEALTH-RELATED FITNESS COMPONENTS AMONG YOUTH AGED 9 THROUGH 12609

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the tracking of multiple healthrelated fitness components in children from fourth to sixth grade. The FITNESSGRAM (1987) testing protocol was used to measure 414 children (213 boys, 201 girls, mean=9.48 yrs, ±0.41, 76% White, 16% Asian & Pacific Islander, 5% Latino, 2% African-American, and 1% Other) from three elementary schools in Southern California. Children were assessed during the fall and spring of each grade by trained evaluation staff. Spearman rank correlations were used to analyze tracking. Baseline scores were correlated with each subsequent time point. For boys, three-year correlations of body mass index (BMI) (.89), sum of tricep and calf skinfold thickness (.80), sit-and-reach test (.67), and the pull-up test (.66) indicated high levels of tracking. Mile run (.56), sit-up test (.46) and waist-to-hip ratio (.30) tracked moderately. Similar results were found for girls; BMI (.83), sum of skinfolds (.75), sit-and-reach test (.72), and the pull-up test (.63) tracked highly, while mile run (.42), sit-up test (.47), and waist-to-hip ratio (.42) tracked moderately. Results suggest that relative rankings of BMI, skinfold thickness, and sit-and-reach test performance may be more likely to track into adolescence and possibly adulthood. Measures of cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance and fat distribution may be less likely to track into adolescence, possibly because they are more influenced by changes in physical activity, or because tracking may be reduced by measurement error.