National Physical Fitness Research Articles

Field-based physical fitness assessment in preschool children in China

BackgroundPhysical fitness in the preschool years is considered a marker of current and future health. Therefore, understanding physical fitness levels of preschool children is necessary. Furthermore, the use of field-based methods to measure physical fitness is essential for assessing children in authentic venues such as schools. Hence, the main purpose of this study was to describe the physical fitness of Chinese preschool children across field-based methods considering a statement of confidence intervals for reference in physical fitness in each age and genders.MethodsA total of 619 children (296 boys and 323 girls) aged 3–6 years old from China participated in the present study. Physical fitness was measured using the Chinese National Physical Fitness Measurement (CNPFM-Pre) battery, which included the tennis ball throw (upper-limb muscular strength), standing long jump (lower-limb muscular strength), shuttle run test (speed-agility), double-leg timed hop (coordination), sit-and-reach (flexibility), and balance beam test (dynamic balance).ResultsThe results revealed significant differences in gender for standing long jump (SLJ; η2 = 0.012, p = 0.007), tennis ball throw (TT; η2 = 0.081, p < 0.001), sit-and-reach (SR; η2 = 0.114, p < 0.001), and one-legged stance test (OST; η2 = 0.037, p < 0.001). Age had positive effects on all physical fitness performance tests, as the shuttle run test (η2 = 0.672, p < 0.001), SLJ (η2 = 0.513, p < 0.001), TT (η2 = 0.394, p < 0.001), double-legged timed hop test (DTH; η2 = 0.445, p < 0.001), SR (η2 = 0.069, p < 0.001), balance beam test (BBT; η2 = 0.367, p < 0.001), and OST (η2 = 0.336, p < 0.001). Older preschool children performed better than their younger counterparts in all the tests. No significant interactions between age groups and gender were found.ConclusionsThis study provided age- and gender-specific physical fitness performance data in Chinese preschool children. Gender differences in physical fitness tests performance already exists at the preschool age. All physical fitness component results increased with age in this cohort. These findings can help healthcare, physical education, and pediatric professionals understand the physical fitness development of preschool children at different ages and help design sports tasks for preschool boys and girls.

The effects of physical exercise on fitness and emotion in Chinese preschoolers

BackgroundThe global prevalence of overweight and obesity in children under the age of five has emerged as a significant issue in recent years. Physical activity and fitness among children and adolescents have declined globally in the past few decades. Studies have indicated a link between levels of physical activity and cognitive performance in preschool children.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of three different types of physical education programmes on the physical fitness and emotional competence of 239 preschoolers(mean age = 5.49 ± 0.60 years, 54.4% boys)in Haikou, China. The preschoolers were grouped based on which programme they were assigned to: the “Hello Sunshine” ball skills programme (HS group), ordinary physical education (OPE group), and free play (FP group). The “Hello Sunshine” ball skills programme used both a structured curriculum design and autonomous activity selection during outdoor time., which were conducive to children’s physical fitness.The National Physical Fitness Measurement Standards Manual and the shortened version of the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation Scale (SCBE-30) were used to assess physical fitness and emotional competence, respectively. These assessments were conducted both before and after the ten-week intervention period. The analysis utilised a mixed-effects model for physical fitness and a mixed-model ANOVA for the SCBE data.ResultsThe HS group and OPE group demonstrated significantly improvement in the standing long jump, 10-m shuttle run and balance beam walking than the FP group; meanwhile, only anxious-withdrawal levels showed a significant grouping effect and group-by-time interaction effect. After the intervention, both the HS group and the FP group showed significantly lower scores for anxiety compared to the OPE group, with no significant difference observed between the HS and FP groups.ConclusionsThe results suggested that structured ball skills programmes may promote physical fitness and reduce anxiety. The integration of effective physical exercise programmes into preschool curricula holds the potential for promoting holistic development.

Spatial non-equilibrium and distribution dynamic evolution of the development level of national physical fitness in China's provinces.

Physical health is fundamental to a country's socio-economic advancement. An in-depth exploration of the spatial distribution and dynamic evolution of national physical fitness across China is crucial for enhancing the country's overall physical health. This study aims to provide valuable insights into the geographical and temporal patterns of physical fitness, informing strategies for national physical fitness improvement. Employing data from China's national physical fitness monitoring of 31 provinces, cities, and districts for the years 2005, 2010, and 2015, this study utilizes the Gini coefficient, its decomposition, and nonparametric density estimation methods. These techniques are applied to analyze the spatial disparities and temporal trends in national physical fitness levels among different demographics, including the overall population, males, females, and urban and rural residents. The study reveals that the regional disparity in China's national physical fitness initially narrowed and then expanded across the general population, females, and in both urban and rural areas, while consistently increasing among males. In terms of geographical distribution, the East, Middle, and West regions show significant heterogeneity, with the East-West gap being the most pronounced (Gini coefficients of 0.0249, 0.0230, 0.0263). The contribution rate of regional gaps was highest (54.40% -64.69%), followed by regional disparities (24.78% -27.15%), and the contribution of hypervariable density difference was the smallest (10.53% -19.75%). Despite a slight improvement in overall national physical fitness, the absolute regional disparities have further widened. Provinces with lower levels of national physical fitness demonstrate a 'club convergence' trend, indicating regional clustering of similar fitness levels. Additionally, a 'catch-up effect' is evident in rural areas, particularly in provinces with historically lower levels of national physical fitness. These findings suggest the need for region-specific public health strategies to address the growing disparities in national physical fitness across China.

A study on the physical aging characteristics of the older people over 70 years old in China.

In China, with the increase of life expectancy and the decrease of fertility rate, the aging problem has become increasingly prominent, and the physical problems of the older people over 70 years are the key and difficult problems. Based on the interactive logic between the aging problem and the older people health, in the study, a questionnaire survey and a nationwide physical fitness test were carried out on the older people over 70, to divide into different age groups (70-74 years old, 75-79 years old, 80-84 years old, 85 years old and older) and different genders. There were 8,400 valid samples, and 1,050 persons in each group. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences among groups of different ages, and a broken line chart was drawn to discuss the aging characteristics of various physical indexes of the older people over 70 in China. (1) Body morphology: male waist circumference, male waist-to-height ratio and female BMI showed a gradual downward trend with the increase of age; (2) Physiological function: male and female vital capacity showed a decreasing trend with the increase of age, while female pulse pressure showed a gradual upward trend. (3) Physical quality: the indicators of male and female muscle strength, flexibility quality, aerobic endurance and balance showed a downward trend with the increase of age. Vital capacity, flexibility quality, muscle strength, aerobic endurance, balance ability and so on, decreased significantly with the growth of age. 80 years old is the inflection point of the rapid decline of various indicators. Blood pressure, silent pulse, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and other indicators did not change regularly with age. Indicators such as blood pressure, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were in the high-risk range of metabolic diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The study conducted physical fitness test on the older people over 70 years old in 7 geographical regions of China, which is the first nationwide physical fitness test for the older people, which is an extension and expansion of the national physical fitness monitoring system, and also shows that the test indicators involved in the "Health fitness scale" are simple and feasible. And the study added a series of test data over 70 years old, which is the basis for scientific and reasonable formulation of physical fitness evaluation standards for the older people, and is of great significance for improving the national physical fitness database and grasping the dynamic changes of national physical health status, and providing data support for scientific guidance of physical exercise for the older people.

1930년대 말 국민체력저하 문제의 대두와 사회적 대응

In 1936, General Teraiichi Derauchi raised concerns about the declining national physical fitness during a regular assembly. This statement paved the way for the establishment of the Welfare Department in 1938. The recognition of the national physical fitness decline as an urgent issue by the army emerged around the mid-1930s. The army had been continuously analyzing the results of conscription examinations. Experiences utilizing the results of conscription examinations in the “Excellent Excellent young man Village Award(優良壯丁市町村表彰)” project conducted by the Asahi Shimbun in 1934, along with the appointment of Chikahiko Koizumi(小泉親彦) as the Director of the Medical Officer, prompted a re-evaluation of the physical fitness issue among servicemen. Subsequently, Koizumi's analysis of the national physical fitness issue led to General Koizumi's remarks. Subsequently, through academic research and mass media, the issue spread socially. Initially, the “Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(日本學術振興會)” established a related committee to initiate scientific examination. The research findings highlighted the necessity for accurate data to assess the nation's physical fitness. These academic research results provided a policy definition for 'physical fitness' and laid the groundwork for the National Physical Fitness Law(國民體力法) enacted in 1940. Asahi Newspaper(朝日新聞社), a prominent mass media outlet, provided a platform for the formation of societal consensus on the issue of national physical fitness. Particularly noteworthy is the 'National Physical Fitness Improvement Symposium(國民體力向上座談會)' held in June 1937. Government officials, along with experts from various fields including academia, labor, and sports, attended this symposium to discuss the causes of the decline in national physical fitness and potential improvement measures. Not only were policy perspectives discussed, but also vividly conveyed were the issues faced in practical settings. As a result of these processes, societal awareness of the issue of national physical fitness spread, and there was a growing chorus calling for alternative solutions to address it. The discussions and awareness spread at the societal level would go on to have a significant impact on the subsequent policy-making process. In other words, the national importance of the issue of national physical fitness, symbolized by the establishment of the Welfare Department during the wartime period, was shaped not only by political responses but also by the convergence of societal interest and awareness.

Research on The Spatial Heterogeneity of National Physical and Mental Health in China Based on Numerical Simulation

Studying the spatial interactions between socio-economic and natural (SEN) factors and physical health (PF) can help improve national physical and mental health and develop health policies. In order to deeply analyze the relationship between social and economic environment, sports activities, and national physical and mental health, and improve the level of national physical and mental health, this study used mathematical numerical analysis methods using MATLAB and ArcGIS software to determine the determining factors of PF differences in China. The reported National Fitness Composite Index (NFCI) in China was extracted from the National Physical and Mental Health Fitness Monitoring Bulletin in 2015. The SEN factors were gathered from the China Statistical Yearbook in 2015. The OLS model and GWR model were then utilized to investigate the SEN factors of the NFCI. We found that the NFCI of each province had a strong relationship with the natural environment. The NFCI of the eastern coastal regions was higher but also similar to that of the central and western regions. It was also found that the impact of the natural environment on national physical and mental health fitness was greater than that of social and economic factors. Temperature and hours of sunshine were major environmental factors. Annual hours of sunshine (ANNsun, hours), health care expenditure (HEAexpe, Chinese yuan), annual temperature (ANNtem, °C), road distance (ROAdis, kilometers) and annual rainfall (ANNrai, millimeters)are socioeconomic and natural (SEN) determinants of factors and physical fitness (PF). We should increase physical exercise, change our concepts of health, develop a healthy lifestyle and improve our physical fitness in accordance with the national fitness strategy. The regression coefficients obtained by the GWR model show significant differences, indicating that the degree of influence of social, economic, and natural factors on national physical fitness varies significantly with geographical regions..

Development of Field Tests for Cardiovascular Fitness Assessment in Wheelchair.

It is essential to consider both physique and physical fitness factors to minimize the risk of injuries and optimize athletic performance among elite athletes. Athletes with disabilities face limitations in fitness assessments compared to their healthy counterparts. The aim of this study was to revalidate established cardiovascular fitness assessment methods and develop field tests for wheelchair athletes. As representatives registered at the Korea Paralympic Committee's Athletes Training Center in Icheon, athletes with physical disabilities participating in para ice hockey (n = 14), who were capable of wheelchair control, were volunteered. Prior to cardiovascular fitness assessments using an ergometer and a shuttle run, demographic characteristics were surveyed, and physical measurements and muscle strength (grip strength) were recorded. All the participants performed one ergometer test based on cardiovascular fitness criteria, and for shuttle run validation, two trials were conducted using existing audio cues (National Physical Fitness 100, 20 m shuttle run). For the development of the shuttle run, considering wheelchair turning, signal-to-sound intervals were increased by 1 s and 1.5 s, respectively, in two trials. An analysis of the correlation with the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in comparison to the reference criterion, an ergometer, demonstrated high correlations in the first trial (r = 0.738) and the second trial (r = 0.780). Similarly, significant correlations were observed with the maximum heart rate (HRmax) in the first trial (r = 0.689) and the second trial (r = 0.896). Thus, the 15 m shuttle run is validated as a field test for assessing cardiovascular fitness in athletes with disabilities. Correlation analysis with maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) compared to the reference criterion, an ergometer, revealed a correlation of 0.815 with a 1 s interval audio cue and 0.355 with a 1.5 s interval audio cue. A high correlation was observed with the 1 s interval audio cue. Regarding the maximum heart rate (HRmax), the correlations were 0.665 with a 1 s interval audio cue. Once again, a high correlation was noted with the 1 s interval audio cue. The field test selected for measuring cardiovascular fitness in wheelchair athletes involved performing a 15 m shuttle run while in the wheelchair. The test utilized an audio cue with a 1 s increased interval between the signal sounds.

How to design and establish a national school-based physical fitness monitoring and surveillance system for children and adolescents: A 10-step approach recommended by the FitBack network.

Providing individual- and population-level data on children's physical fitness (PF) is a crucial public health and education priority. However, few national fitness monitoring or surveillance systems are currently in practice internationally. We aim to summarize the current European PF monitoring and surveillance systems for school-aged children and to provide experience-based guidelines on how to design such systems. The FitBack network consists of experts from diverse backgrounds with the common interest to improve the accessibility of PF monitoring for young people globally. Through FitBack network, we identified and compared the national or regional PF monitoring and surveillance systems currently in operation across Europe. We formulated a 10-step approach for designing and establishing one's own system, based on analysis of experienced strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to monitoring childhood fitness. We identified a total of eight PF monitoring systems in Finland, France, Galicia of Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Serbia, and Slovenia. The FitBack network recommends the following steps for designing and establishing one's own system: (1) set up mission statements and aims, (2) involve stakeholders, (3) utilize scientific background, (4) governance structure, (5) ensure sufficient funding, (6) data management planning, (7) provide meaningful feedback, (8) conduct pilot testing, (9) plan implementation process, and (10) invest in communication with stakeholders. This study provides an updated overview of the best practices for school-aged children's fitness monitoring and surveillance in Europe. Additionally, it offers a 10-step approach to assist in the creation of similar systems in Europe or globally.

Relationships among Physical Fitness, External Loads, and Heart Rate Recovery: A Study on Futsal Players during an Overseas Congested-Weeks Training Camp.

This study examined relationships among players' physical characteristics, match external loads, and heart rate recovery (HRR) during match substitutions in a congested fixture of an overseas futsal training camp. Eleven under-20 national futsal players' anthropometric characteristics (age, body height, body mass, % fat, and % muscle) and physical fitness [HRmax, VO2max, maximal aerobic speed (MAS) during the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT)] were determined. Additionally, locomotion profiles during field play and HRR sitting on the bench were recorded during five matches. A repeated-measures analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. The results revealed that the overall observed correlations among anthropometry, body composition, physical fitness, and HRR were inconsistent across all the matches and substitutions. However, the numbers of moderate (1.00-1.99 m/s2), moderate-to-high (2.00-2.99 m/s2), and high (3.00-50.00 m/s2) intensities of acceleration presented negative correlations in the last match (r < -0.76; p < 0.05). HRR during match substitutions may have been influenced by uncontrolled factors across all the match play and recovery. HRR measures may be affected mainly by fatigue caused by the accumulation of accelerations throughout a congested fixture during a congested-schedule of a futsal training camp.

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.

Empirical analysis of spatial heterogeneity in the development of China's National Fitness Plan.

The National Fitness Plan (NFP) is a vital initiative aimed at realizing Healthy China 2030. This study assessed spatial heterogeneity in the NFP development and the socioeconomic factors contributing to this inequality. Data from 31 administrative regions in 2021 were analyzed using four NFP development metrics. Spatial autocorrelation was evaluated using global Moran's I, followed by global and local regression models for non-random spatial patterns. National physical fitness exhibited significant clustering (z = 5.403), notably a high-high cluster in East China. The global regression model identified three socioeconomic factors in the geographically weighted regression model: per capita disposable income and the number of public buses positively affected national physical fitness, while general public budget expenditure had a negative impact. Persistent unequal NFP development is projected due to income disparities in economically backward regions. To promote the NFP effectively, a cost-efficient strategy includes creating 15-minute fitness circles, especially by establishing public sports facilities in Western China communities. These findings inform policy priorities for advancing the NFP towards Healthy China 2030.

Results Assessment Methods of Health-Related Fitness Test Batteries in School-Based Physical Education Programs: A Global Comparison

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the result assessment approaches used in the widely implemented health-related fitness batteries in school-based physical education programs. Method: Fitness test batteries implemented in the European Union (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness), China (China’s National Physical Fitness Testing), the United States (Fitnessgram), and Russia (Ready for Labor and Defense [Gotov k Trudu i Oborone [GTO]]) were included in the study. The document analysis method was used to identify commonalities and differences of results assessment methods in the above test batteries. Results: It was found that the norm-referenced method has been used in Assessing Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness, China’s National Physical Fitness Testing, and GTO, and only Fitnessgram used the criterion-referenced method. Among the three norm-referenced evaluation methods, there were two variations: (a) total numerical points used in CNPFT, and (b) categories employed in Assessing Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness and GTO. Conclusions: Both norm-referenced and criterion-referenced evaluations were used in the current youth health-related fitness test batteries, suggesting that the current understanding of the purpose of school-based-fitness testing in schools has not reached a consensus.

Relationship Between the Japanese Physical Fitness Test and the 3-Minute Burpee Test.

Background Japan has conducted a national physical fitness survey every year since 1964, when the first Tokyo Summer Olympics were held. The survey is a test that evaluates eight physical fitness components: speed, total body endurance, instantaneous force, dexterity, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and agility, but it requires specialized equipment and space, and it takes time to measure them all. Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the 3-minute burpee test (3MBT), which has been reported to be associated with various physical fitness components, and a "new physical fitness test." Materials and methods The relationship between the "new physical fitness test" and the 3MBT was examined in 122 college students (male=70, female=52) with no health problems. Results The "new physical fitness test" and the 3MBT showed a moderate relationship between the 20-m shuttle run (r = 0.685, p < 0.05), side stepping (r = 0.566, p < 0.05), standing long jump (r = 0.545, p < 0.05), grip strength (r = 0.461, p < 0.05), sit and reach (r = 0.305, p < 0.05), and sit-ups (r = 0.572, p < 0.05), indicating a moderate relationship. Because this study used the Pearson product-rate correlation analysis, it is not possible to definitively assert a relationship with physical fitness factors. Conclusions However, the 3MBT is a very useful test because it requires whole-body strength, power, endurance, and aerobic capacity.

Sports motivation in Chinese college students: A systematic review

BackgroundAccording to the 2014 National Physical Fitness and Health Monitor, people aged 9 to 22 exhibit limited physical activity, with a large proportion exercising for less than 1 h daily. China has focused on the study of college student sports motivation. This study comprehensively analyzed sports motivation studies and their relevant factors on Chinese college students. MethodsThe researchers searched CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), WANFANG DATA, Cqvip, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library for sports motivation in Chinese college students. Articles from 2018 to 2023 were searched. The final analysis included 30 pieces of literatures that met the topic criteria. ResultsThe results show that Chinese college students' sports motivation studies used large sample sizes and covered most of China. The main sports motivations are health, shape, and relaxation. Demography, psychology, social support, physical environment, and policy aspects affect sports motivation. Lack of use of qualitative and longitudinal studies. ConclusionIn the future, scholars who research the sports motivation of Chinese college students need to pay more attention to social support, physical environment, and policy. Furthermore, scholars may try to use qualitative and longitudinal studies.

A cohort study of factors influencing the physical fitness of preschool children: a decision tree analysis.

Based on the decision tree model, to explore the key influencing factors of children's physical fitness, rank the key influencing factors, and explain the complex interaction between the influencing factors. A cohort study design was adopted. 1,276 children (ages 3-6) from 23 kindergartens in Nanchang, China, were chosen for the study to measure the children's physical fitness at baseline and a year later and to compare the physical fitness scores at the two stages. The study was conducted following the Chinese National Physical Fitness Testing Standard (Children Part); To identify the primary influencing factors of changes in physical fitness, a decision tree model was developed, and a questionnaire survey on birth information, feeding patterns, SB, PA, dietary nutrition, sleep, parental factors, and other relevant information was conducted. The levels of physical fitness indicators among preschool children showed a significant increase after 1 year. The accuracy of the CHAID model is 84.17%. It showed that 7 variables were strongly correlated with the physical changes of children's fitness, the order of importance of each variable was weekend PA, weekend MVPA, mother's BMI, mother's sports frequency, father's education, mother's education, and school day PA. Three factors are related to PA. Four factors are related to parental circumstances. In addition to the seven important variables mentioned, variables such as breakfast frequency on school day, puffed food, frequency of outing, school day MVPA, parental feeling of sports, father's occupation, and weekend breakfast frequency are all statistically significant leaf node variables. PA, especially weekend PA, is the most critical factor in children's physical fitness improvement and the weekend MVPA should be increased to more than 30 min/d based on the improvement of weekend PA. In addition, parental factors and school day PA are also important in making decisions about changes in fitness for children. The mother's efforts to maintain a healthy BMI and engage in regular physical activity are crucial for enhancing the physical fitness of children. Additionally, other parental factors, such as the parents' educational levels and the father's occupation, can indirectly impact the level of physical fitness in children.

Association between Perceived Psychological Stress and Exercise Behaviors: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Survey of National Physical Fitness.

Perceived psychological stress and exercise are bidirectionally related, and the effects of exercise on stress relief are well documented. However, research on the influence of stress on exercise remains scarce. This study examined the association between perceived psychological stress and exercise participation among Korean adults and older adults as well as the relationship between exercise frequency and perceived stress. Data on 3440 participants (2813 adults aged 19-64 and 627 older adults aged 65 or more) were collected from the Survey of National Physical Fitness conducted by the Korea Institute of Sport Science and the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015. We compared the participants' health-related behaviors, including exercise, regular breakfast consumption, and smoking, according to their perceived psychological stress levels. Those who perceived a higher level of psychological stress reported lower levels of exercise participation, regular breakfast consumption, and smoking, with the exception of older male participants. The study also found that a higher frequency of exercise participation corresponded with a lower perceived level of psychological stress (β = -0.080, p < 0.001) and that engaging in physical activity even once a week yields a substantial reduction in stress levels. In a large sample of Koreans, high levels of perceived psychological stress were significantly associated with less physical activity and infrequent weekly exercise. This study found a dose-response relationship between exercise frequency and reduced stress and suggested that psychological stress should be considered crucial in promoting physical activity.

Effect of Extracurricular After-School Physical Activities on Academic Performance of Schoolchildren

The beneficial effects of increasing outdoor physical activity time on children's myopia onset and physical well-being are widely acknowledged. However, in countries with competitive educational systems, such as China, parents and school administrators may be relatively reluctant to increase the extracurricular physical activity time for children due to concerns that this action will compromise children's academic performance. To investigate whether additional extracurricular physical activity time after school compromises the academic performance of schoolchildren. This cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted from October 2020 to June 2021 in Yudu, Jiangxi, China. Eligible children in grades 3 and 4 from 24 elementary schools were randomized to the intervention or control group. Primary analysis was conducted in the full sample using the intention-to-treat principle. The intervention group received 2 hours of after-school physical activity time outdoors on school days. The control group was free to arrange their after-school activity. The primary outcome was the between-group mean difference in mathematics test scores at the end of 1 academic year, with a noninferiority margin of -3.3 points. Standardized mathematics tests, physical fitness assessments (in reference to the 2018 National Physical Fitness Survey Monitoring Programme in China), and cycloplegic autorefraction were performed at baseline and the end of 1 academic year. Myopia was defined as a cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction of -0.5 diopters or less in either eye. A total of 2032 children (mean [SD] age, 9.22 [0.62] years; 1040 girls [51.2%]) from 24 schools were randomized to the intervention group (12 schools; 1012 children) or control group (12 schools; 1020 children). The mean (SD) mathematics score at the end of 1 academic year was 78.01 (17.56) points in the intervention group and 77.70 (17.29) points in the control group. The adjusted between-group mean difference was 0.65 points (95% CI, -2.85 to 4.15). The adjusted between-group mean difference in physical fitness score was 4.95 points (95% CI, 3.56-6.34; P < .001) and -1.90% (95% CI, -18.72% to 14.91%; P > .99) in myopia incidence. Results of this trial indicate that, compared with the control practice of free play after school, adding 2 hours of extracurricular physical activity outdoors after school was noninferior in academic performance and had superior efficacy in improving physical fitness. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04587765.

Relationship between Perceived Stress, Obesity, and Hypertension in Korean Adults and Older Adults.

Perceived stress has a significant effect on metabolic diseases, including obesity and hypertension. However, the association between stress levels, obesity, and hypertension according to age and sex is not fully understood. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between stress levels and obesity and hypertension in Korean adults and older adults. We analyzed data from the 2015 survey of the Korea National Physical Fitness Project conducted by the Korea Institute of Sports Science and the Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Of the 3457 participants, 2829 were adults (20-64 years old) and 628 were older adults (≥65 years old). The correlation between obesity and hypertension according to the degree of perceived stress (low, medium, and high) was analyzed using the chi-square test. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of perceived stress levels on obesity and hypertension. Age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, exercise frequency, smoking, breakfast, and sleeping hours were included as covariates. In adult males, perceived stress levels, age, and diastolic blood pressure were found to have a significant impact on obesity rates, whereas age and breakfast had a significant effect on hypertension rates. In adult females, age and systolic blood pressure were found to significantly influence obesity rates, whereas age, BMI, and exercise frequency had a significant impact on hypertension rates. In older adult females, perceived stress levels and systolic blood pressure were found to significantly impact obesity rates, and sleep duration influenced the rates of hypertension. The effect of perceived stress level on obesity and hypertension rates was less pronounced in the elderly population than in the adult population. This study revealed age and sex differences in the relationship between perceived stress, obesity, and hypertension among Koreans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationship between perceived stress and metabolic disorders and emphasize the need for a deeper understanding of the specific factors involved in the prevention and management of metabolic diseases.

Deep-learning model for predicting physical fitness in possible sarcopenia: analysis of the Korean physical fitness award from 2010 to 2023.

Physical fitness is regarded as a significant indicator of sarcopenia. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a deep-learning model for predicting the decline in physical fitness due to sarcopenia in individuals with potential sarcopenia. This study used the 2010-2023 Korean National Physical Fitness Award data. The data comprised exercise- and health-related measurements in Koreans aged >65 years and included body composition and physical fitness variables. Appendicular muscle mass (ASM) was calculated as ASM/height2 to define normal and possible sarcopenia. The deep-learning model was created with EarlyStopping and ModelCheckpoint to prevent overfitting and was evaluated using stratified k-fold cross-validation (k = 5). The model was trained and tested using training data and validation data from each fold. The model's performance was assessed using a confusion matrix, receiver operating characteristic curve, and area under the curve. The average performance metrics obtained from each cross-validation were determined. For the analysis of feature importance, SHAP, permutation feature importance, and LIME were employed as model-agnostic explanation methods. The deep-learning model proved effective in distinguishing from sarcopenia, with an accuracy of 87.55%, precision of 85.57%, recall of 90.34%, and F1 score of 87.89%. Waist circumference (WC, cm), absolute grip strength (kg), and body fat (BF, %) had an influence on the model output. SHAP, LIME, and permutation feature importance analyses revealed that WC and absolute grip strength were the most important variables. WC, figure-of-8 walk, BF, timed up-and-go, and sit-and-reach emerged as key factors for predicting possible sarcopenia. The deep-learning model showed high accuracy and recall with respect to possible sarcopenia prediction. Considering the need for the development of a more detailed and accurate sarcopenia prediction model, the study findings hold promise for enhancing sarcopenia prediction using deep learning.

Associations between Smoking Status and Health-Related Physical Fitness and Balance Ability among Older Males in Taiwan.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between smoking status and health-related physical fitness and balance ability in older males residing in Taiwan. This investigation adopted a cross-sectional design, utilizing data from 7688 older males who took part in the 2014-2015 wave of the National Physical Fitness Survey of Taiwan. Various data sources, including a standardized structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, health-related physical fitness assessments, and balance ability tests, were analyzed. The participants were divided into three categories based on their smoking habits: never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate the linear association between cigarette smoking status and health-related physical fitness and balance ability performance. Health-related physical fitness and balance performance were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the never smoker group than in the current smoker group. Current smoking status was significantly negatively (p < 0.05) associated with cardiopulmonary function, muscular endurance, flexibility, and balance performance. A history of smoking (former smoker) was significantly negatively (p < 0.05) associated with the 2-min step test, 30-s arm curl and chair stand, as well as the 8-foot up-and-go test; however, the association was not significant for the back scratch, chair sit-and-reach, and one-leg stance with eyes open performance. These results suggest that current cigarette smoking is detrimental to health-related physical fitness and balance performance in older males. Quitting smoking may reverse the effects of smoking on overall body flexibility and static balance performance in Taiwanese older adults, thereby reducing the risk of falls and incapacity.