Health-related Physical Fitness Research Articles

Physical Fitness Surveillance and Monitoring Systems Inventory for Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review with a Global Perspective.

Surveillance of health-related physical fitness can improve decision-making and intervention strategies promoting health for children and adolescents. However, no study has comprehensively analyzed surveillance/monitoring systems for physical fitness globally. This review sought to address this gap by identifying: (1) national-level surveillance/monitoring systems for physical fitness among children and adolescents globally, (2) the main barriers and challenges to implementing surveillance/monitoring systems, and (3) governmental actions related to existing surveillance/monitoring systems. We used a scoping review to search, obtain, group, summarize, and analyze available evidence. Our review involved three stages: (1) identification of surveillance systems through a systematic literature review, with complementary search of the grey literature (e.g., reference lists, Google Scholar, webpages, recommendations), (2) systematic consultation with relevant experts using a Delphi method to confirm/add systems and to gather and analyze information on the barriers and challenges to implementing systems, and (3) Web searches for public documents on government sites and surveillance/monitoring system pages, and direct internet searches to identify relevant governmental actions related to surveillance systems. A total of 15 fitness surveillance/monitoring systems met our inclusion criteria. Experts identified a lack of government support and funding, and the low priority of fitness on the public health agenda as the main barriers/challenges to implementation. Several governmental actions related to surveillance systems were identified, including policies, strategies, programs, and guidelines. We propose a Global Observatory of Physical Fitness to help address these issues.

Effects of Some Physical Exercises with a Diet using artificial intelligence on Some Morphological Variables Related to Health in Obese Persons

The current research aims to identify the effects of physical exercises accompanied by a diet on some health-related body morphology variables and weight loss among obese persons. The researcher used the experimental approach (one-group design) with pre- and post-measurements. The researcher purposefully chose (16) obese persons, (12) of them were recruited as a main sample while (4) were recruited as a pilot sample. Results indicated that: The recommended exercise program with diet had positive effects on health-related physical fitness variables (speed – endurance – agility – power – strength – cardiorespiratory strength) among obese persons. The recommended exercise program with diet had positive effects on weight reduction variables (body weight – BMI – Fat percentage) among obese persons. Exercise with diet helped decrease weight among obese persons. There are statistically significant differences between the pre-and post-measurements of health-related physical fitness variables (among obese persons in favor of post-measurements. There are statistically significant differences between the pre-and post-measurements of weight decrease among obese persons in favor of post-measurements.

Analysis of Body Composition and Physical Fitness Variables of Korean Middle School Students: National Fitness Award (2018-2022)

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to analyze the trend of yearly changes in adolescent body composition and health-related physical fitness variables using National Fitness Award.METHODS We sampled 209.924 adolescents (age: 13.99 ± 0.85) and investigated their body composition, muscle strength, and cardiopulmonary function. Subgroups by year (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) were compared using one-way analysis of variance and frequency analysis tests.RESULTS In the subgroup classified by year, there were significant differences between groups in height, BMI, and gender, and there were significant differences between groups in relative grip strength, 20m PACER, and maximal oxygen consumption.CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study presents changes in body composition, muscle strength, and cardiopulmonary function by year as basic data to help understand adolescents' health conditions, and it is expected to provide data that can have a positive impact for future use as clinical and public health information.

Health-Related Physical Fitness Evaluation in HIV-Diagnosed Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Background: Health-related physical fitness has been widely used to investigate the adverse effects of HIV infection/ART in children and adolescents. However, methods/protocols and cut-points applied for investigating health-related physical fitness are not clear. The aim of this scoping review was to map the literature to identify gaps in knowledge regarding the methods/protocols and cut-points. Methods: A scoping review, following the Joana Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines, was conducted through ten major databases. Search followed the PCC strategy to construct block of terms related to population (children and adolescents), concept (health-related physical fitness components) and context (HIV infection). Results: The search resulted in 7545 studies. After duplicate removal, titles and abstracts reading and full text assessment, 246 studies were included in the scoping review. Body composition was the most investigated component (n= 244), followed by muscular strength/endurance (n = 23), cardiorespiratory fitness (n = 15) and flexibility (n = 4). The World Health Organization growth curves, and nationals’ surveys were the most reference values applied to classify body composition (n = 149), followed by internal cut-points (n = 30) and cut-points developed through small populations (n = 16). Cardiorespiratory fitness was classified through cut-points from three different assessment batteries, as well as cut-points developed through studies with small populations, muscular strength/endurance and flexibility were classified through the same cut-points from five different assessment batteries. Conclusions: The research on muscular strength/endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness and flexibility has been scarcely explored. The lack of studies that investigated method usability as well as reference values was evidenced.

Fitness promotion in college: the relationships among students' perceived physical literacy, knowledge, and physical fitness.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perceived physical literacy (PPL), knowledge of physical activity and fitness (PAF knowledge), and physical fitness. Undergraduates (N = 968, female = 414; Mage = 18.64) from a public university in central China completed a simplified Chinese version of the PPL instrument, an online test for PAF knowledge, and seven health-related physical fitness tests. The PPL includes three dimensions: (a) confidence and physical competence, (b) motivation, and (c) interaction with the environment. The fitness tests measured lung capacity, body mass index (BMI), and performances in 800 (female)/1000 (male) meters run, 50 meters dash (50 M), sit-up (female) / pull-up (male), standing long jump (SLJ), and sit-and-reach. PPL and its dimensions significantly predicted six fitness test performances both in male (β: -0.42 - 0.37; p < 0.01-0.05; R2: 0.01-0.13) and female (β: -0.59 - 0.49; p < 0.01-0.05; R2: 0.03-0.13) students. PAF knowledge (β: -0.17 - 0.18; p < 0.01-0.05; R2: 0.01-0.05) significantly predicted BMI (males) and performances in 50 M (females) and SLJ (females) tests. To support college students' fitness development and maintenance, tailored physical activity and fitness promotion programs are needed to strengthen students' PPL and PAF knowledge.

Health and skill-related physical fitness of physiotherapy students

Physiotherapy is a physically demanding profession. Health and skill-related physical fitness should be emphasized in physiotherapy students for both the personal benefit on their own health and injury prevention and for the sustainability of their ability to meet job demands. This study aims to assess levels of health and skill-related physical fitness in undergraduate physiotherapy students in Jordan. A cross sectional study of 109 physiotherapy students; 23 males aged 19.57 (1.44) years and 86 females aged 20.02 (2.61) years. The following health and skill-related physical fitness components were assessed: body mass index (BMI), modified sit and reach, partial curl-up, push-ups, vertical jump, 20-m shuttle run, handgrip strength, 4x10 shuttle run, and star excursion balance tests. Most of the students had normal BMI (65.1%) but levels of physical fitness were mainly poor and below average except for hamstring flexibility which was excellent. Lack of normative data on agility and dynamic balance in healthy adults who are not athletes limited determining their level in our students. The results mainly demonstrated poor levels of health-related physical fitness of Jordanian physiotherapy students, which could have a significant effect on their performance and increase their risk of injury. Dynamic balance and agility results are presented for the first time in healthy adults (not athletes) which could be used in future research. It is suggested to encourage commitment towards lifestyle modification and health behaviour and increase awareness of the physical demands of the profession.

Adolescent Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Future Work Ability

Although research indicates that low fitness in youth is associated with a higher risk of chronic disability in men, the association of fitness in adolescence with work ability in working men and women remains unknown. To examine the associations of adolescent health-related physical fitness with future work ability. This 45-year observational cohort study, conducted in Finland, examined the direct and indirect longitudinal associations of objectively measured health-related fitness in adolescence (in 1976) with self-reported work ability and sickness absence in early middle age (in 2001) and the Work Ability Index in late middle age (in 2021). A countrywide stratified random baseline sample included fitness measurements for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (running 1.5 km for girls and 2 km for boys), musculoskeletal fitness (MF; standing broad jump and sit-ups for both sexes, pull-ups for boys, and flexed-arm hang for girls), and height and weight, from which body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Structural equation modeling-based path analysis, adjusted for age and sex at baseline and for educational level, work-related physical strain, and leisure-time physical activity in late middle age, was conducted. Data analysis was performed from January to July 2023. Self-reported work ability was measured with structured questions in early middle age and with the validated Work Ability Index in late middle age. The final sample from longitudinal analyses (1207 individuals; 579 [48%] male individuals) consisted of participants with fitness measurement from age 12 to 19 years, and work ability assessment from age 37 to 44 years and/or age 57 to 64 years. Higher adolescent CRF was associated with higher work ability (839 participants; β = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.22; P = .03) and lower sickness absence (834 participants; β = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.12 to -0.02; P = .004) in early middle age and, indirectly, mediated by work ability in early middle age, with a higher work ability at the end of working age (603 participants; β = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.001 to 0.08; P = .04). The results remained consistent in both sexes and after adjustment for the confounders. Neither MF nor BMI was associated with work ability (MF, 1192 participants; β = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.03; BMI, 1207 participants, β = 0.09; 95% CI, -0.004 to 0.19) or sickness absence (MF, 1185 participants, β = 0.02; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.06; BMI, 1202 participants, β = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.09 to 0.03) in early middle age or with late middle age work ability, mediated by work ability in early middle age (MF, 603 participants, β = -0.02; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.01; BMI, 603 participants, β = 0.03; 95% CI, -0.004 to 0.07). These findings suggest that low CRF in youth is associated with poor work ability at the middle and end of working life, which highlights the informative and prognostic value of CRF assessment early in youth. Enhancing CRF in the first decades of life might contribute to better work capacity and productivity in the labor force, which would have implications for health, quality of life, society, and the economy.

Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Obesity.

Examine the current state of literature related to the impact of obesity in children and adolescents on health-related physical fitness and the resultant cardiometabolic disease risk. Cardiorespiratory fitness of children and adolescents has declined over the past few decades which corresponds with an increase in obesity rates. Children with obesity are more likely to have low cardiorespiratory fitness which is associated with higher cardiometabolic disease risk and poorer mental health. The impact of obesity on muscular fitness in children and adolescents is more difficult to ascertain, but in general measures of physical function are lower in children with obesity which has also been associated with higher cardiometabolic disease risk. Components of health-related physical fitness are trending negatively in children and adolescents and appear to be related to the increase in prevalence of obesity. The resultant cardiometabolic disease risk has also risen which suggests a greater disease burden in the future. These disparaging findings highlight the need for aggressive interventions to improve physical fitness in children and adolescents.

Prevalence of falls and comparison of health-related physical fitness factors between different faller categories among institutionalized older adults in Kandy District of Sri Lanka.

Falls can be identified as one of the main issues in elderly population which can lead to serious consequences. Elderly population can be subdivided as community dwelling older adults and institutionalized older adults. The components of health-related physical fitness factors play an important role in the perspective of healthy ageing. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of falls and to compare health-related physical fitness factors between different fall categories among institutionalized older adults. This descriptive cross-sectional study comprised of one hundred and seventy-two elders above 60 years of age, living in registered elder's homes in Kandy District. The prevalence of falls was determined by the number of falls reported by the subjects. They were further categorized as non-fallers, fallers, and frequent fallers depending on the number of falls. Body Mass Index (BMI) for body composition, 2-minute walk test for cardiovascular endurance, 30 second sit to stand test for muscle strength and endurance, hand grip strength for upper body strength, chair sit and reach test for lower body flexibility and back scratch test for upper body flexibility were the measures used to assess health-related physical fitness factors. The prevalence of falls is presented as percentage and the health-related factors were compared between the three faller categories using one-way ANOVA and pairwise comparison was performed using Scheffe test. The prevalence of falls was 47.1%. There was a significant difference in BMI, cardiovascular endurance, and lower body flexibility between the three categories of fallers. Higher BMI, lower cardiovascular endurance and lower flexibility in the lower body were associated with increased prevalence of falls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in body fat percentage, hand grip strength, lower body muscle strength and endurance and upper body flexibility (p>0.05). The findings suggest that, BMI, cardiovascular endurance, and lower body flexibility must be addressed and managed, while designing intervention programs for falls prevention among institutionalized older adults.

Associations of lower-limb muscle strength performance with static and dynamic balance control among older adults in Taiwan.

Aging is an inevitable process of life development. These physical changes can cause a decline in the functional adaptability and health status of older adult individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of lower-limb muscle strength performance with static and dynamic balance control among older adults in Taiwan. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan 2015-2016. A total of 20,846 Taiwanese older adult individuals aged 65 years old or older were recruited as study participants. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric assessments, lifestyle habits, and health-related physical fitness measurements from this dataset were analyzed using the chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression analysis. Lower-limb muscle strength performance was classified into 4 groups based on quartile (Quartile 1 [Q1], Quartile 2 [Q2], Quartile 3 [Q3], and Quartile 4 [Q4]) values. Increased lower-limb muscle strength levels were significantly associated with static balance in men (Q2: β = 2.539, p < 0.0001; Q3: β = 4.590, p < 0.0001; Q4: β = 7.700, p < 0.0001) and women (Q2: β = 2.022, p < 0.0001; Q3: β = 4.179, p < 0.0001; Q4: β = 6.920, p < 0.0001) after adjusting for potential confounders. In addition, we observed that increased lower-limb muscle strength levels were significantly associated with dynamic balance in men (Q2: β = -1.661, p < 0.0001; Q3: β = -2.434, p < 0.0001; Q4: β = -3.091, p < 0.0001) and women (Q2: β = -1.660, p < 0.0001; Q3: β = -2.548, p < 0.0001; Q4: β = -3.196, p < 0.0001) after adjusting for potential confounders. Lower-limb muscle strength was the most important factor, as it was an improved method for static and dynamic balance control in both genders.

Combining physical and physical education curricula with curricula Its impact on school achievement and the social adaptation of middle school

&#x0D; Sports activity is an educational activity that works to educate young people with a balanced and integrated education in terms of: emotional, social, physical and mental, through various sports programs and fields under the supervision of a specialized leadership that works to achieve the goals of sports activity in a way that contributes to achieving the general goals of physical education in the stages of general education. One of the general foundations of the state's general educational policy. Study objectives: The effect of integrating physical education and sports curricula into the basic curricula. Developing, supporting and enhancing the positive psychological and social aspects through physical activity.Developing and maintaining health-related physical fitness components Recommendations:_ This study contributes to the interest in the curricula of physical education and sports because of its great impact on the level of academic achievement, raising the morale of male and female students, developing the spirit of cooperation and overcoming the problems of social adaptation between male and female students._ Practicing the activity of physical education and sports and integrating them with the basic curricula (science - English language - social studies - mathematics) helps students to acquire the skills of academic achievement and excellence in various basic school subjects._ Practicing the activity of physical education and sports helps students to acquire many skills in all physical, mental, social and moral aspects, as it helps students to adapt socially.&#x0D; &#x0D;  

Health-related physical fitness, physical activity and its correlates among school going adolescents in hilly state in north India: a cross sectional survey

IntroductionHealth-related physical fitness, which includes body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, flexibility, power, and strength are associated with risks of chronic diseases and promote good health and wellness. There have been reports of increasing levels of physical inactivity among children and adolescents, leading to increasing rates of obesity and decreased physical fitness. The present study was conducted among school going adolescents to estimate the levels and correlates of PF for timely intervention.MethodologySchool based cross-sectional study was done among students of class 8-11th in Government schools of Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. Multistage stratified random sampling was applied for recruitment of study participants. We recruited a final sample size of 634 students. Validated questionnaires and standard methods for assessment of physical fitness, physical activity levels and other variables such as waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI and hemoglobin estimation were done.ResultsAverage and above average cardiorespiratory fitness score as per Harvard step test among boys (54.3%) was significantly higher as compared to girls (21.3%) (χ2 = 88.93, p < 0.001). There was a significant association between gender and dominant handgrip strength (χ2 = 8.02, p = 0.01) as well as between gender and Shoulder stretch test (SST) of dominant (χ2 = 17.5, p < 0.05) as well as nondominant arm (χ2 = 13.5, p < 0.05). Sit and reach test results also showed a significant association with gender (χ2 = 27.17, p < 0.001). Gender, hemoglobin level, BMI and PAL scores significantly predicted cardiorespiratory fitness scores (R2 = 0.188, F value of the model = 37.69, p =< 0.001)).ConclusionPhysical fitness of school going adolescents in Garhwal division of Uttarakhand was better than other parts of India, with significant gender differences. Physical activity levels (PAL) were poor and are also a significant predictor of physical fitness. More emphasis needs to be paid on the health and fitness of girl students. School based policies to increase PAL among students through innovation and rewards may go a long way in improving the long-term health of the students.

The Impact of Structured Aerobic Exercise Programs on Health-Related Physical Fitness Parameters in High School Students

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of structured aerobic exercise programs on health-related physical fitness parameters in high school students. A sample of 300 students participated in a 12-week intervention, engaging in supervised aerobic activities three times a week. Pre- and post-assessment measurements included cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. Results revealed significant improvements across multiple fitness parameters. Cardiovascular endurance, assessed through a timed mile run, showed an average increase of 15%. Muscular strength, measured by the number of push-ups and sit-ups, exhibited improvements of 20% and 18%, respectively. Flexibility, assessed through the sit-and-reach test, saw an average enhancement of 12%. Additionally, there was a positive trend in body composition, with a collective reduction in body fat percentage by 3%. Structured aerobic exercise programs proved effective in enhancing health-related physical fitness among high school students. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating regular aerobic activities into school curricula to promote overall fitness and well-being in adolescent populations. Integrating such programs may contribute to establishing lifelong habits of physical activity, positively impacting long-term health outcomes.

P722 The steep ramp test is a valid practical test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Background Comprehensive disease management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires a holistic approach that extends beyond achieving endoscopic healing. Monitoring health-related physical fitness (HRPF) parameters (i.e. body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility) may lead to a more proactive approach to managing IBD, as IBD may affect HRPF due to e.g. chronic inflammation, malnutrition, corticosteroid use, and reduced physical activity. Yet, knowledge regarding HRPF in patients with IBD is limited. Assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), a key component of HRPF in other chronic diseases, could offer valuable insights into physical capacity and overall health. However, the gold standard, measuring oxygen uptake at peak exercise (VO2peak) achieved during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is impractical for widespread implementation in clinical practice. The steep ramp test (SRT), a short-term maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer, might serve as a less demanding assessment method to facilitate routine assessment of CRF in clinical practice and deliver more practical endpoints for intervention studies. This study aimed to examine the criterion validity of the SRT as compared with CPET in evaluating CRF in patients with IBD. Methods From August 2022 to October 2023, adult patients with IBD in remission or with mild-to-moderate clinical disease activity were consecutively enrolled. Each participant performed a SRT and a CPET within 14 days to examine CRF. The main outcome measures were the achieved work rate at peak exercise (WRpeak) for the SRT (SRT-WRpeak) and VO2peak as well as WRpeak for CPET (CPET-VO2peak and CPET-WRpeak). Validity of the SRT was evaluated with Pearson’s correlation coefficients between SRT-WRpeak and CPET-VO2peak and SRT-WRpeak and CPET-WRpeak. Results A total of 50 participants, with a mean age of 42.9 years and 56% diagnosed with CD, were included (Table 1). One participant was excluded from the analysis due to the inability to achieve a maximal effort during CPET. Mean (±SD) WRpeak attained at the SRT was 4.32 (±1.06) W·kg-1, and mean (±SD) VO2peak and WRpeak achieved during CPET were 33.47 (±9.85) mL·kg-1·min-1 and 2.90 (±0.95) W·kg-1, respectively. Figure 1 illustrates robust linear relationships with very strong correlations between SRT-WRpeak and CPET- VO2peak (r=0.945, p&amp;lt;0.001) and SRT-WRpeak and CPET-WRpeak (r=0.960, p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion Results of this study suggest that the SRT is a valid alternative test for examining CRF in patients with IBD, indicating its potential application in both clinical practice and intervention studies. Further research should explore the criterion validity of practical tests for other components of HRPF.

Health-related physical fitness and blood pressure in people with intellectual disabilities in Korea

Hypertension is one critical health issue causing cardiovascular diseases. There has been a common concern among health researchers that the prevalence of hypertension, known as high blood pressure, has been more frequently observed among people with intellectual disabilities, compared to the general population. Thus, this study aims to identify which health-related physical fitness and body composition factors are significantly related to both systolic and diastolic blood pressures among people with intellectual disabilities. The data from 2180 people with intellectual disability who conducted the physical fitness tests from 2019 to 2020 were used for this study. Four physical fitness tests (i.e., 3-min step, grip strength, sit-up, and sit and reach) and two body compositions (i.e., body mass index and body fat %) used as predictors, and two blood pressures (i.e., systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) were used as outcome variables. A regression analysis was performed to examine the proposed associations. The regression test revealed that 3-min step, body mass index, and body fat % were significantly associated with both systolic blood pressure and diastolic body pressure. This research contributes to our understanding of the roles of body compositions and aerobic endurance in preventing hypertension among people with intellectual disability.

The Effectiveness of Water- versus Land-Based Exercise on Specific Measures of Physical Fitness in Healthy Older Adults: An Integrative Review.

As the population ages, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes increasingly vital to promote overall health and well-being in older individuals. Water- and land-based exercises have emerged as popular options, each offering a distinct set of benefits tailored to the unique needs of this population group. An electronic database search, including PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and Web of Science, was conducted until 15 September 2023, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, to investigate the effects of water-based compared to land-based exercise on selected fitness parameters in older healthy individuals. The eligibility criteria included studies with at least two groups of participants aged 60 and older, with physical fitness outcome measures. A total of ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. While both exercise modalities may offer significant benefits, this review's findings emphasized the absence of conclusive evidence and consensus for recommending a single exercise category applicable to aquatic or land environments and providing more definite guidance to improve health-related physical fitness parameters in healthy older individuals. Finally, combining both training approaches may lead to a comprehensive array of health benefits for this age group population by also considering individual's needs, preferences, and fitness goals.

Health-related Physical Fitness, Blood Pressure, and Body Mass Index among People with Intellectual Disability, Visual Impairment, and Hearing Impairment

PURPOSE: A low physical fitness level is one of the major health problems to be addressed among people with disabilities; this issue has not been spotlighted much in the public. This study was performed to determine the health-related physical fitness (HRPF) and blood pressure of people with intellectual disability (ID), visual impairment (VI), and hearing impairment (HI) and the differences in these parameters according to each type of disability and its severity.METHODS: Data of 11,802 participants with ID, VI, and HI who underwent standard physical fitness tests were analyzed. Differences in the proportion of participants with high blood pressure (HBP), body mass index (BMI) group, and HRPF parameters according to the severity of each type of disability were analyzed using the χ&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; test or one-way analysis of variance. The odds ratio for HBP after adjustments for age, sex, severity of disability, and BMI group was also analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: There were significant differences in all HRPF parameters according to the disability type as well as the severity of disability in each group of individuals with ID, VI, and HI. Those with ID had the lowest values in the hand grip strength, sit-up, and sit-and-reach tests, and these values were significantly lower in the most severely disabled group for individuals with ID. The odds ratio for HBP was 1.211 (95% confidence interval: 1.069–1.371) for grade 1 ID.CONCLUSIONS: Participants with ID had generally lower HRPF parameter values than those of participants with VI and HI. In addition, significant differences in HRPF parameter values, the proportion of participants with HBP, and BMI were found among participants with disabilities according to the severity of their disability, indicating opportunities for improving the health in these groups.

Clustering of Multilevel Factors Among Children and Adolescents: Associations With Health-Related Physical Fitness.

To identify the clustering characteristics of individual-, family-, and school-level factors, and examine their associations with health-related physical fitness. A total of 145,893 Chinese children and adolescents aged 9-18years participated in this cross-sectional study. The 2-step cluster analysis was conducted to identify clusters among individual-, family-, and school-level factors. Physical fitness indicator was calculated through sex- and age-specific z scores of forced vital capacity, standing long jump, sit-and-reach flexibility, body muscle strength, endurance running, and body mass index. Three, 3, and 5 clusters were automatically identified at individual, family, and school levels, respectively. Students with low physical fitness indicator were more likely to be in the "longest sedentary time and skipping breakfast" cluster (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.24), and "physical inactivity and insufficient protein consumption" cluster (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12) at individual level, the "single children and high parental education level" cluster (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.10-1.21), and "no physical activity support and preference" cluster (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.25-1.36) at family level, and the "physical education occupied" cluster (OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11), and "insufficient physical education frequency" cluster (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24) at school level. Girls were more vulnerable to individual- and school-level clusters, while boys were more susceptible to family clusters; the younger students were more sensitive to school clusters, and the older students were more susceptible to family clusters (P-interaction < .05). This study confirmed different clusters at multilevel factors and proved their associations with health-related physical fitness, thus providing new perspective for developing targeted interventions.

The effect of body mass index and physical activity on recovery heart rate time post treadmill exercise

One important component of health-related physical fitness is cardiovascular-respiratory capacity. Cardiovascular-respiratory capacity can affect the recovery heart rate (RHR) time. RHR is the total pulse measured after a person has finished carrying out certain activities until return to resting heart rate (HRR). The aim of this study is to determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity on RHR time post treadmill exercise. The research subjects were 39 healthy male students with an age range of 18-22 years who had been selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The results of this study show that most students have high levels of physical activity (69.23%). The level of physical activity has a significant negative effect on the RHR time post treadmill exercise, but BMI has no effect on the RHR time post treadmill exercise. Thus, subjects who have a high level of physical activity require a faster RHR time.

Differential influence of gender on the effectiveness of structured physical education on health-related physical fitness of elementary school students

Differential influence of gender on the effectiveness of structured physical education on health-related physical fitness of elementary school students