Health-related Physical Fitness In Adolescents Research Articles

Swim, Strength, or Combined Programs: Effect on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents With Down Syndrome.

The adolescent population with Down syndrome (DS) appears to show higher levels of body fat and lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness or muscle strength than their peers without disabilities. There is a need to create physical activity programs to improve these data. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of a 16-week swimming program, strength program, and combined program (swimming and strength training) on body composition and health-related physical fitness on adolescents with DS and to assess whether there are differences in the results of the different training programs. Forty-five adolescents (17 female and 28 male; average age 15.5 [1.53] years) with DS were recruited and randomized to three groups (swim [n = 15], strength [n = 15], and combined [n = 15]). Results showed that the swim group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables and there was an improvement in some body-composition variables (p < .05). The strength and combined groups obtained minor improvements in the variables analyzed. In summary, a 16-week swim program consisting of three sessions of 60min is able to improve levels of body composition and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with DS. The swim training program seems to be more effective in improving body composition and health-related physical fitness than the strength or combined program. These findings could be useful in different special-education centers due to the predisposition shown by the population with DS to this sportmodality.

Association between BMI and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with hearing impairment in China: a cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional study aimed to address a critical gap in the understanding of the association between body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness levels in adolescents with hearing impairment (HI) in China. This study investigated how different BMI levels impact the physical fitness index (PFI) of HI adolescents. This study employed a physical fitness test for HI adolescents attending special education schools. The test included eight components: height, weight, 50-m sprint, standing long jump, sit and reach, endurance run, bent-knee sit-up (for girls), and pull-up (for boys). Test scores for each student were standardized by age and gender. Individual Z-scores were then calculated, and the sum of these Z-scores constituted the PFI. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between BMI and PFI across different gender and age groups. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The linear regression model showed an inverted U-shaped relationship between BMI and PFI. At the same BMI level, boys exhibited superior physical fitness compared to girls with the same BMI (P < 0.05). Statistically significant differences in PFI levels were observed between normal-weight and obese males, as well as between underweight and obese boys (P < 0.05). In the 13-15 and 16-18 age groups, the increase in BMI has a greater impact on boys PFI than on girls. Adolescents with HI generally demonstrated good physical fitness. Compared to individuals with normal weight, those who were underweight, overweight, or obese exhibited lower levels of physical fitness. Future interventions should focus on adolescents with HI with abnormal BMI.

Effectiveness of exergames programme to modify body composition and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with down syndrome after COVID-19 quarantine

ABSTRACT Aims: to determine the effect of a 20-week exergame program on different indicators of body composition and components of health-related physical fitness in adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods and Procedures Outcomes: 49 adolescents (19 female and 30 males; average age, 14.19 ± 2.06 years) with Down syndrome were recruited and randomized to two groups (control group vs. intervention group). Adolescents allocated in the control group carried out a physical activity program three times a week for 20 weeks meanwhile adolescents allocated in the exercise group performed an exergame program three times a week for 20 weeks. Results: The exercise group had significant improvements in all health-related physical fitness variables and there is an improvement in some body composition variables (p < 0.05). Conclusions and Implications: 20 week exergame program consisting of 3 sessions of 60 minutes is able to improve levels of body composition and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with Down syndrome. Highlights Research in body composition and health-related physical fitness of people with Down syndrome has revealed that an exergame programme increases levels of health-related physical fitness in adolescents with Down syndrome An exergame programme can improve differences in markers of body composition between the control group and the intervention group The intervention group that performed the exergame programme showed increases in health-related physical fitness levels after 20 weeks of intervention. The control group that performed a based on developing motor behaviour programme did not show differences in body composition or health-related physical fitness after 20 weeks of intervention.

The Effects of COVID-19 School Closures on Physical Fitness in Adolescents

Purpose: This study examined differences in measures of health-related physical fitness in adolescents before and after extended school closures due to COVID-19. Method: The sample consisted of 298 students (135 males and 163 females) from a laboratory high school. Data were collected through FITNESSGRAM assessments. A repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance was calculated to analyze differences in fitness before and after COVID-19 closures, including McNemar–Bowker and McNemar tests. Results: Statistically significant differences were identified for Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run (−4.2%; 1.8 ml·kg−1·min−1) and curl-up (−12.5%; 7.9 repetitions). In addition, 18.8% fewer students were classified within the Healthy Fitness Zone for Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run, 4% for curl-up, 10.8% for push-up, and 6.4% for sit and reach. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that there was a significant decline in physical fitness for secondary students during extended school closures and social isolation as a result of COVID-19.

Effectiveness of an adapted physical activity intervention on health-related physical fitness in adolescents with intellectual disability: a randomized controlled trial

This study aimed to examine the effects of an adapted physical activity (APA) intervention on health-related physical fitness (HRPF) in adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). With a randomized controlled trial design, adolescents aged 12–18 years, with mild and moderate ID, and being overweight and obese were recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group. The APA intervention consisted of overall moderate intensity aerobic and resistance exercise, with a duration of 45 min/session, a frequency of 2 sessions/week, and lasting for 9 months. A negative control was involved, in which participants received no treatment. Changes in four fitness tests, including the 9-min run/walk, handgrip strength, 30-s sit-ups, and sit-and-reach tests, were assessed between the groups using general linear models. A total of 57 participants (39 in the intervention group and 18 in the control group) completed the study. Significant mean differences in changes in the 9-min run/walk test (413.6 m [95% CI 146.72 m, 680.41 m], p = 0.003) and the right-side sit-and-reach test (2.2 cm [95% CI 0.37 cm, 4.09 cm], p = 0.020) respectively were observed in the intervention group, compared to the control group. No significant between-group improvement was observed for the handgrip strength and the 30-s sit-ups tests. The APA intervention induced beneficial effects on cardiorespiratory fitness and potential beneficial effects on flexibility for adolescents with ID. However, no significant effects of this intervention on muscular strength and endurance were observed in this study. Future studies should consider involving effective exercises in interventions to improve muscular strength and endurance.

Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents from Spain, Estonia and Iceland: A Cross-Sectional, Quantitative Study.

The benefits of physical fitness (PF) for health are well-known. Low PF significantly contributes to the prevalence of obesity in adolescents, with an increased risk of developing chronic diseases. The objectives of the present study were to explore the health-related PF components and body composition levels in adolescents in three European cities, and their differences. The present study is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative research effort with 1717 participants aged between 13−16 years (48% girls), enrolled in public and private secondary schools in Seville (Spain), Reykjavik (Iceland) and Tartu (Estonia). The ALPHA fitness battery test was used with the following tests: handgrip strength, standing broad jump, 4 × 10 m speed-agility, 20 m shuttle run, and anthropometric variables. Regarding body composition, differences were detected for city and gender in height (p < 0.001), weight (p < 0.001), body fat percentage (p < 0.001), and waist circumference (p < 0.001); but no differences were reported for BMI for both city (p = 0.150) and gender (p = 0.738). Similarly, concerning PF, it was detected statistically significant differences between cities and gender in handgrip strength (p < 0.001), jump test (p < 0.001), speed-agility test (p < 0.001), and cardiovascular endurance in both variables (p < 0.001). In total, 26.8% of the boys and 27.3% of the girls were categorized as overweight; 18.1% of the boys and 31.2% of the girls had an excessive percentage of fat mass; and 22.7% of the boys and 22.2% of the girls showed an excessive waist circumference. The participants from Seville presented the lowest results in PF tests. In contrast, Reykjavik, with the highest results in the endurance and speed-agility tests, and Tartu, with higher results in the manual grip strength and long jump tests, shared the highest results.

The Mediating Effect of Physical Fitness and Dietary Intake on the Relationship of Physical Activity with Body Composition in High School Students.

We aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related physical fitness (PF) in adolescents and analyze if the associations of PA with body composition (BC) in adolescents are mediated by physical fitness or energy intake (EI). The participants were 236 adolescents (140 girls 16.1 ± 0.92 years). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed using the Yo-YoITL1, and the push-up test was used to evaluate strength. BCs were measured on an electrical weight scale. Triaxial accelerometers were used to determine PA levels and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels. EI was estimated with a validated questionnaire. Mediation effects were estimated using bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals and were deemed significant if zero was not included in the intervals. The mediation analysis revealed an indirect effect of MVPA only through PF on BC, specifically through CRF on body fat (B = −0.0146, 95% BootCI (−0.0219; −0.0076)) and on lean body mass (B = 0.0096, 95% BootCI (0.0049; 0.0152)), as well as through upper body strength on body fat (B = −0.012, 95% BootCI (−0.0171; −0.0072)) and on lean body mass (B = 0.0059, 95% BootCI (0.003; 0.0095)). These results suggest that PA of at least a moderate intensity is relevant to BC and health-related PF in adolescents, regardless of the EI.

Effects of aerobic exercise combined with resistance training on health-related physical fitness in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial

Background/ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the effects of two combined training methods on health-related physical fitness components in adolescents. MethodsSeventy-six adolescents (16.1 ± 1.1 years, n = 44 female) were randomized into groups of moderate-intensity continuous training combined with resistance training (MICT + RT), high-intensity interval training combined with resistance training (HIIT + RT), or Control. The training sessions were performed twice weekly for 12 weeks. The health-related physical fitness components evaluated were: body composition, muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness. ResultsThe intervention groups had a significant reduction in body fat percentage and improvement in abdominal repetitions and VO2peak after 12 weeks of combined exercise program (p < 0.001). Intervention effects were found to significantly reduce body fat percentage for the MICT + RT and HIIT + RT groups compared to the control group (mean difference: −3.8; 95% CI: −6.2; −1 0.3; mean difference: −4.7; 95%CI: −7.1; −2.3, respectively). For muscle fitness, significant effects of the intervention were found in increasing the number of abdominal repetitions favoring the MICT + RT group compared to the control group (mean difference: 9.5; 95% CI: 4.4; 14.7) and HIIT + RT compared to the control group (mean difference: 14.1; 95% CI 9; 19.3). For cardiorespiratory fitness, significant effects of the intervention on improving VO2peak were found in the experimental groups (MICT + RT vs Control group: mean difference: 4.4; 95% CI: 2.2; 6.6; and HIIT + RT vs. Control group: mean difference: 5.5, 95% CI: 3.3; 7.7). ConclusionThe results suggest that 12 weeks of training using MCIT + RT or HIIT + RT showed a similar effect for health-related physical fitness components in adolescents.

Prospective Associations of Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents with Down Syndrome: The UP&DOWN Longitudinal Study.

(1) Background: Numerous studies have focused on examining the association between PA levels and health-related physical fitness components in children or adolescents without disabilities. However, research on the association between PA and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with DS (Down syndrome) is limited, and most of the previous studies have been developed with a cross-sectional perspective. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the prospective association of accelerometer-based PA at baseline with health-related physical fitness at a 2-year follow-up in a relatively large sample of adolescents with DS from the UP&DOWN study. (2) Methods: A total of 92 adolescents with DS (58 males) between 11 and 20 years old with full data were eligible from an initial sample of 110 participants. Fitness was assessed by the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for youth, and physical activity was assessed by Actigraph accelerometers. (3) Results: The high tertile of total PA was related to decreased motor (Beta [95% CI] = −1.46 [−2.88; −0.05]) and cardiorespiratory fitness (Beta [95% CI] = −2.22 [−4.42; 0.02]) in adolescents with DS. (4) Conclusions: In adolescents with DS, (i) PA level was not prospectively associated with muscular fitness and (ii) high levels of total PA at the baseline were inversely associated with motor and cardiorespiratory fitness at the 2-year follow-up. For comparative purposes, these relationships were also examined in a subsample of adolescents without DS.

Effects of a School-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Obesity and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents With Intellectual Disability: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundChildhood obesity accompanied by lower levels of health-related physical fitness (HRPF) is a major threat to public health both internationally and locally. Children with intellectual disability, especially adolescents, have a higher risk of being overweight/obese and having poor HRPF levels. Therefore, more interventions are needed to help this population attain their optimal health levels. However, there has been relatively limited research on this population compared with on their typically developing peers.ObjectiveThe proposed study aims to fill this knowledge gap by developing and examining the success of a physical activity (PA) intervention for the target population.MethodsThe proposed study will be a 12-week, school-based randomized controlled trial. The participants (N=48) will be recruited from special schools for students with mild intellectual disability and then randomly allocated to either the intervention group (IG) or the wait-list control group (CG). During the intervention period, the participants in the IG will receive a fun game–based moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) training program (2 sessions/week, 60 minutes/session, for a total of 24 sessions). The intensity of the activities will increase in a progressive manner. Participants in the CG will receive no program during the study period, but the same PA program will be provided to them after the completion of the study. To observe and evaluate the sustaining effects of the intervention, follow-up testing will be scheduled for the participants 12 weeks after the intervention concludes. The study outcomes will include primary outcomes (obesity- and fitness-related outcomes) and a secondary outcome (blood pressure). All of the measurements will be taken at 3 time points. After the follow-up tests, the same PA training program will be provided to the participants in the CG.ResultsThis study is ongoing. The participants were recruited from October 2020 to November 2020. The total duration of the study is 13 months. Study results are expected at the end of 2021.ConclusionsThe proposed study is expected to reduce obesity and improve HRPF levels in children with intellectual disability. If proven effective, the intervention will be made accessible to more special schools and mainstream schools with students with intellectual disability. Furthermore, the study can serve as an example for international researchers, policy makers, and members of the public who are seeking to tackle the problem of obesity and poor HRPF among children with intellectual disability.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04554355; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04554355International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/25838

Effects of School-Based Physical Activity Programs on Health-Related Physical Fitness of Korean Adolescents: A Preliminary Study.

As adolescents spend the majority of their time focused on exams and assignments, they do not have sufficient time to engage in physical activity; this lack of physical activity is an important public health concern. This study aimed to investigate how school-based physical activity programs affect the health-related physical fitness of adolescents in the Republic of Korea. For this study, a total of 120 high school students participated in a school-based physical activity program that included badminton and table tennis for 15 weeks each (35 min/day, three times a week), with a total of 30 weeks for one academic year. The parameters for health-related physical fitness measured muscle strength (handgrip strength), power (standing long jump), cardiorespiratory fitness (shuttle run test), flexibility (sit and reach), body mass index (BMI), and the total score. The results revealed a statistically significant improvement in muscle strength (p < 0.001), power (p < 0.001), cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001), flexibility (p = 0.005), and the overall health-related physical fitness score (p = 0.001). However, students’ BMI showed no significant difference before and after participation (p = 0.825). The results of this study indicated that school-based physical activity programs can have a positive effect on the health-related physical fitness of adolescents.

An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Associated with Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents. The ASSO Project

Monitoring physical fitness (fitness) and identifying, since the beginning, possible determinants in youth could be useful to preserve health and avoid morbidities in adulthood. The main objective of this study is to provide details on the fitness levels of a sample of adolescents living in the Southern area of Italy and describe its associations with biological/genetic, socio-cultural/environmental, and lifestyle (physical activity/sedentariness, alcohol/smoking, meal patterns/habits) factors. The study was conducted within the Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and examining adolescents’ lifestyle in relation to obesity. Fitness measures were collected through the ASSO-fitness tests battery (FTB) and examined in relation to 79 selected possible influencing factors, which were collected through a web-based questionnaire included in the ASSO-NutFit software. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations, with ORs and 95% CIs estimated as crude and adjusted. A total of 919 participants were initially recruited, but fitness data were collected for 544 students aged 13–19 (68% M, 32% F). Fitness level was low for 14.2% of the students, medium for 67.8%, and high for 18.0%. The independent determinants of low physical fitness in our sample of adolescents were included in the biological/genetic and physical activity/sedentariness dimensions: female gender (Adj OR 8.33, CI 2.08–33.33), obesity (Adj OR 1.97, CI 1.10–9.22), practicing sport less than 3 h/week (Adj OR 6.09, CI 1.63–22.72), practicing sport with strength/speed as prevalent biomotor ability (Adj OR 8.97, CI 1.43–56.19), using PC/internet for more than 3 h/day (Adj OR 4.46, CI 1.17–16.98). Drinking alcohol was instead a protective factor. This study confirms that females and obese individuals need more attention in the interventions aimed at increasing fitness levels. It suggests that local actions should be implemented with the aim of increasing sport practices and reducing sedentary time spent in front of PC/internet. The focus should be particularly addressed to sports with strength or speed as dominant biomotor abilities.

Geographical Distribution, Socioeconomic Status And Health-related Physical Fitness In Adolescents From A Large Population-based Sample From Bogotá, Colombia

PURPOSE: The negative gradient between socio-economic status and prevalence of non-communicable disease in adulthood has prompted investigation of potential foundations based in childhood. The objective of the present study is to examine the influence of socio-geographical variations and socioeconomic status on health-related physical fitness in adolescents from a large population-based sample of Colombian ninth graders. METHODS: During the 2014-2015 school years, we examined a cross-sectional component of the SER Study is a cross-sectional Body mass, height, muscular fitness (standing broad jump and handgrip tests) and cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle-run) were measured in n=52,204 14-16-year-olds. Area-level socioeconomic status was categorized from 1 to 6. A model was built by means of a step-by-step process and gradient maps were created to show physical fitness in the quartiles and the trend of physical fitness across disaggregated in Zonal Planning Units (in Spanish UPZ) in Bogotá, for each of the five health-related physical fitness variables. RESULTS: Socioeconomic status was used as the only group-level variable and this had a significant effect on the models for all health-related physical fitness parameters except for handgrip. Cardiorespiratory fitness, standing broad jump, and body mass index increased 6.31, 2.69, and 1.45 times, respectively, on average with the maximum increase in socioeconomic status categories, when we compared two random individuals in each stratum. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a significant association between health-related physical fitness variables and socio-geographical location in ninth grade adolescents from Bogotá, using a multilevel methodological approach.

How Frequencies Of Different Physical Activity Intensities Relate To Health-related Physical Fitness In Adolescents.

How Frequencies Of Different Physical Activity Intensities Relate To Health-related Physical Fitness In Adolescents.

Health-related physical fitness of ambulatory adolescents and young adults with spastic cerebral palsy

To describe in detail the health-related physical fitness of adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy, compared with able-bodied references, and to assess differences related to Gross Motor Functioning Classification System (GMFCS) level and distribution of cerebral palsy. Cross-sectional. Fifty ambulatory persons with spastic cerebral palsy, GMFCS level I or II, aged 16-24 years. Physical fitness measures were: (i) cardiopulmonary fitness by maximal cycle ergometry, (ii) muscle strength, (iii) body mass index and waist circumference, (iv) skin-folds, and (v) lipid profile. Regression analyses, corrected for age and gender, showed that persons with bilateral cerebral palsy had lower cardiopulmonary fitness and lower hip abduction muscle strength than those with unilateral cerebral palsy. Comparisons between persons with GMFCS levels I and II showed a difference only in peak power during cycle ergometry. Cardiopulmonary fitness, hip flexion and knee extension strength were considerably lower (< 75%) in persons with cerebral palsy than reference values. The distribution of cerebral palsy affects fitness more than GMFCS level does. Furthermore, adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy have reduced health-related physical fitness compared with able-bodied persons. This stage of life has a strong influence on adult lifestyle, thus it is an important period for intervention.

Health-related physical fitness and weight status in Hong Kong adolescents

BackgroundThis study was designed to investigate the relation between health-related physical fitness and weight status in Hong Kong adolescents.Methods3,204 students aged 12-18 years participated in the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance (HKSOS) project in 2006-2007. Anthropometric measures (height, weight) and health-related fitness (push-up, sit-up, sit-and-reach, 9-minute run) were assessed. Body mass index (BMI) was computed to classify participants into normal weight, underweight (Grade I, II/III), overweight, and obese groups. The associations of health-related physical fitness with BMI and weight status were examined by partial correlation coefficients and analysis of covariance, respectively.ResultsMore boys than girls were overweight or obese (18.0% vs 8.7%), but more girls than boys were underweight (22.3% vs 16.7%). Boys performed significantly (P < 0.001) better in sit-up (38.8 vs 31.6 times/min) and 9-minute run (1632.1 vs 1353.2 m), but poorer in sit-and-reach (27.4 vs 32.2 cm) than girls. All four physical fitness tests were significantly positively correlated with each other in both sexes, and BMI was only weakly correlated with sit up and sit-and-reach tests in boys. Decreasing performance (P for trend < 0.05) was observed from normal weight to overweight and obese for push-up, sit-up, and 9-minute run in both sexes. From normal weight to Grade I and Grade II/III underweight, decreasing performance (P for trend < 0.05) for sit-up and sit-and-reach in both sexes and for push-up in boys was observed.ConclusionsThe relations between BMI and health-related physical fitness in adolescents were non-linear. Overweight/obese and underweight adolescents had poorer performance in push-up and sit-up tests than normal weight adolescents. Different aspects of health-related physical fitness may serve as immediate indicators of potential health risks for underweight and overweight adolescents.

Physical fitness in scholchildren in Aracaju

This study aimed to describe the health-related physical fitness of adolescents from public schools in the city of Aracaju, SE, Brazil, and the effects of growth and maturation on physical variables. The sample was composed of 288 elementary school students, 146 of whom were male and 142 female, aged between 10 and 14 years. The following variables were measured: body mass, height, flexibility, muscle strength/endurance and aerobic capacity. Descriptive statistics and Student’s t test for independent samples were used for data analysis, adopting a 5% significance level (p <0.05). When the results from the two sexes were compared, significant low variations were observed, always in favor of the males, in all variables with the exception of abdominal strength at 11, 12 and 13 years of age, strength/resistance of arms at 12 years and aerobic capacity (VO2max) at 10, 12 and 14 years, for all of which differences were not significant. Sexual maturity only had na effect on flexibility in males and VO2 max in both sexes.

Aptidão física em escolares de Aracaju

This study aimed to describe the health-related physical fitness of adolescents from public schools in the city of Aracaju, SE, Brazil, and the effects of growth and maturation on physical variables. The sample was composed of 288 elementary school students, 146 of whom were male and 142 female, aged between 10 and 14 years. The following variables were measured: body mass, height, flexibility, muscle strength/endurance and aerobic capacity. Descriptive statistics and Student’s t test for independent samples were used for data analysis, adopting a 5% significance level (p &lt;0.05). When the results from the two sexes were compared, significant low variations were observed, always in favor of the males, in all variables with the exception of abdominal strength at 11, 12 and 13 years of age, strength/resistance of arms at 12 years and aerobic capacity (VO2max) at 10, 12 and 14 years, for all of which differences were not significant. Sexual maturity only had na effect on flexibility in males and VO2 max in both sexes.

Health-related physical fitness of adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele

To assess components of health-related physical fitness in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele (MMC), and to study relations between aerobic capacity and other health-related physical fitness components. This cross-sectional study included 50 adolescents and young adults with MMC, aged 16–30 years (25 males). Aerobic capacity was quantified by measuring peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2) during a maximal exercise test on a cycle or arm ergometer depending on the main mode of ambulation. Muscle strength of upper and lower extremity muscles was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer. Regarding flexibility, we assessed mobility of hip, knee and ankle joints. Body composition was assessed by measuring thickness of four skin-folds. Relations were studied using linear regression analyses. Average peakVO2 was 1.48 ± 0.52 l/min, 61% of the participants had subnormal muscle strength, 61% had mobility restrictions in at least one joint and average sum of four skin-folds was 74.8 ± 38.8 mm. PeakVO2 was significantly related to gender, ambulatory status and muscle strength, explaining 55% of its variance. Adolescents and young adults with MMC have poor health-related physical fitness. Gender and ambulatory status are important determinants of peakVO2. In addition, we found a small, but significant relationship between peakVO2 and muscle strength.

Body Fat Percentage and Physical Fitness in Adolescents

Excess body fat and low physical fitness negatively impact health. Because the percentage of children who are overweight or obese continues to rise, understanding how excess adiposity is related to other components of health-related physical fitness in adolescents is important. PURPOSE: To determine if percentage of body fat varied among adolescents who achieved 1, 2, 3, or 4 Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) classifications on tests of muscular fitness, flexibility, and aerobic capacity on the Fitnessgram. METHODS: The curl-up, the modified pull-up, the back-saver sit and reach, and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) from the Fitnessgram test battery were completed by 250 7th-12th grade students (145 males, 105 females). Percent body fat was determined from triceps and calf skinfolds. Students were classified according to the number of HFZs achieved based on Fitnessgram criteria. RESULTS: Youth who achieved 1 HFZ had a higher percentage of body fat (32.2%, p < .05) than youth who achieved 2 (26.3%), 3 (22.2%), and 4 (19.8%) HFZs (p < .001). Adolescents who attained 2 HFZs had greater adiposity compared to adolescents who attained 3 (p < .05) and 4 (p < .001) HFZs. With respect to sex differences, boys who achieved 1 (28.8%) and 2 (25.2%) HFZs had more body fat than did boys who achieved 3 (18.9%) and 4 (15.1%) HFZs (p < .01). Girls achieving 1 (39.0%) HFZ had a higher percentage of body fat than girls achieving 2 (29.0%), 3 (27.1%), and 4 (23.8%) HFZs (p < .01). Girls who met the criteria for 2 HFZs also had more body fat than girls who met the criteria for 4 HFZs (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, adolescents with a higher percentage of body fat did not reach as many HFZ classifications as those with lower percentages of body fat. This relationship was consistent for the full sample, as well as for boys and girls. These findings support the importance of monitoring body fat levels in adolescence and may facilitate the development of programs targeting childhood obesity as a means of improving health-related physical fitness.