Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this research was to describe, examine, and compare the level of physical fitness, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour in pupils aged 6–13 in the Region of Murcia, Spain, in accordance with weight status. Methods: A total of 370 children (166 girls and 204 boys) aged 6–13 (M = 8.7; DT = 1.8) from the Region of Murcia participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. Some anthropometric parameters such as body mass index, waist circumference, as well as skinfold measurements were determined. ALPHA-FIT Test Battery was used to evaluate physical fitness. Krece Plus Short Test was used to measure physical activity level and sedentary behaviour. Results: 52.4% of the children presented excess weight (according to the World Health Organization growth references). Regarding boys, statistically significant differences were found for cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001), relative handgrip strength (p < 0.001), lower muscular strength (p < 0.001), speed-agility (p < 0.001), as well as sport activities hours (p = 0.001) among the three weight status groups (normal weight, overweight, and obesity). As for girls, statistically significant differences were found for cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.004), relative handgrip strength (p < 0.001), lower muscular strength (p < 0.001), sport activities hours (p = 0.005), as well as physical activity level (assessed by Krece Plus Test) (p = 0.017). A negative statistically significant correlation was found between body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness (rho = −0.389), lower muscular strength, (rho = −0.340), and relative handgrip strength (rho = −0.547). At the same time, a positive statistically significant relationship between body mass index and the time spent in speed-agility (rho = 0.263) was shown. Regarding waist circumference and body fat percentage, similar relationships were identified. Moreover, a greater probability of having higher cardiorespiratory fitness (OR = 1.58; CI95% = 1.38–1.82), relative handgrip strength (OR = 1.25; CI95% = 1.19–1.31), more hours of sport activities (OR = 1.40; CI95% = 1.19–1.66), and physical activity level (assessed by Krece Plus Test) (OR = 1.23; CI95% = 1.07–1.42) was noted in the normal weight group. Conclusions: Children that presented normal weight achieved higher results for health-related physical fitness and physical activity than those with excess weight; this was, however, not found to be the case for sedentary behaviour. The authors emphasise the need for changes in public policies and school-based intervention programmes to develop higher levels of both PF and PA in overweight and obese children.
Highlights
The global prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is alarmingly high [1].In Spain, the prevalence of obesity in children between 6–9 years old in 2015 was 23.2% and 18.1%for overweight and obesity, respectively; 41.3% for excess weight [2]
If we consider the results published in the last ALADINO study in Spain [2], the data that we obtained in our analysis slightly exceeds those, which is in line with the alerts for excess weight indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]
Notwithstanding the above, among the three weight status groups in our study, we found a high number of screen time hours, justified by the excessive time spent on this activity by Spanish children
Summary
The global prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is alarmingly high [1]. For overweight and obesity, respectively; 41.3% for excess weight [2]. The presence of excess weight (understood as the sum of overweight or obesity) in childhood and adolescence increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in adulthood [3], and has a great influence on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the development of atherosclerosis [4]. Childhood obesity increases the likelihood of having higher risk parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure level, etc.) for cardiovascular disease in adulthood [5]. Poor cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness levels are linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors such as adiposity and some metabolic risk parameters in childhood [8]. Some studies have reported a negative association between excess body fat and some parameters of health-related PF, such as CRF [9,10] or muscular fitness [11,12]
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