Trends In Physical Fitness Research Articles

Secular trends in physical fitness in Danish adolescents

It is important to monitor changes over time in aerobic fitness and obesity in order to target interventions when health deteriorates. We analyzed data from three population studies of adolescents carried out in 1983, 1997, and 2003. Participants were 1050 adolescents from the whole country of Denmark in 1983, 410 in 1997, and 418 in 2003, the two latter cohorts from the City of Odense. VO(₂max) was estimated from maximal power output (MPO) in a cycle test with progressively increasing workload. Estimated VO(₂max) for boys and girls was 52 and 41 mL/min/kg, respectively, both in 1983, 1997, and 2003 with no difference between the three cohorts. However, body mass index (BMI) increased 10% in the upper decentile of the distribution since 1983. MPO decreased over time, but validation studies showed that this was not due to decreased VO(₂max) . The cohort from 1983 was tested twice by school teachers and experienced scientists, and the scientists found higher MPO than school teachers in the same subjects, which emphasize the importance of good validation studies.

Secular trends of physical fitness in Swedish adults

The aim of the present study was to study differences in fitness (maximal aerobic power (VO(2max)), balance control, abdominal strength and endurance) and anthropometric data in Swedish women and men (20-65 years of age) between two national cross-sectional samples, studied in 1990/1991 and 2000/2001, respectively. The absolute and relative VO(2max) (aerobic fitness), estimated from a submaximal test, declined with increasing age in both genders. The submaximal test was validated against running VO(2max). Furthermore, the relative aerobic fitness (mL/min/kg) was lower in the 2000/2001 sample in men but not in women. Overall physical activity level was unchanged in both genders. An unexpected finding was that in both samples there were no major differences in relative VO(2max) between men and women of the same age. Combined overweight and obesity (body mass index> or =25) is becoming more prevalent in men, but not in women with prevalence in 2000/2001 of 61% and 38% for men and women, respectively. Balance control and abdominal strength and endurance decrease with increasing age with no differences between the two samples. Thus, the near future health situation for men may be worse, while for women it may be less or no differences compared with today.

Secular trends in physical fitness and obesity in Danish 9-year-old girls and boys: Odense School Child Study and Danish substudy of the European Youth Heart Study.

Low physical fitness and obesity have been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Obesity is on the increase in many countries, but little is known about physical fitness trends. Monitoring of changes in fitness and obesity in the population is important for preventive strategies, and the aim of this study was to analyse the secular trends in fitness and body composition in Danish children. Two representative population studies were conducted 12 years apart on 9-year-old children in the same location: the Odense School Child Study in 1985-86 and the European Youth Heart Study in 1997-98. In both studies, physical fitness was determined by a maximal cycle ergometer test, and obesity was assessed by skinfolds. Boys had a lower physical fitness and were fatter in 1997-98 than in 1985-86. In addition, an increased polarization is emerging, with the difference between the fit and the unfit and the difference between the lean and the fat being greater in 1997-98 than in 1985-86. In girls, a similar polarization was found, but no overall change in fitness or obesity. The negative trend and increased polarization for physical fitness and obesity in Danish children suggest a future generation with a higher degree of CVD risk.

Trends in physical fitness and nutrition in the USA.

Trends in physical fitness and nutrition in the USA.

Aerobic capacity of adolescents.

ArticleAerobic capacity of adolescents.H G KnuttgenH G KnuttgenPublished Online:01 Apr 1967https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1967.22.4.655MoreSectionsPDF (855 KB)Download PDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesGet permissionsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInWeChat Previous Back to Top Next Download PDF FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation Cited ByPhysiological Daily Inhalation Rates for Health Risk Assessment in Overweight/Obese Children, Adults, and Elderly22 October 2013 | Risk Analysis, Vol. 34, No. 3Estimation of Maximal Oxygen Uptake via Submaximal Exercise Testing in Sports, Clinical, and Home Settings3 July 2013 | Sports Medicine, Vol. 43, No. 9Derivation of physiological inhalation rates in children, adults, and elderly based on nighttime and daytime respiratory parameters8 February 2011 | Inhalation Toxicology, Vol. 23, No. 2Secular trends in physical fitness in Danish adolescents5 September 2010 | Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, Vol. 20, No. 5Seasonal variations in physical activity and implications for human health16 July 2009 | European Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 107, No. 3Physical working capacity and energy supply of muscle function during postnatal human ontogenyHuman Physiology, Vol. 33, No. 3Conclusions and perspectivesDevelopment of muscular endurance and strength from adolescence to adulthood and level of physical capacity in men and women at the age of 34 years30 January 2007 | Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, Vol. 6, No. 3The relationship of treadmill test performance to blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors in adolescentsAmerican Heart Journal, Vol. 118, No. 1Exercise testing in childrenPediatric Pulmonology, Vol. 5, No. 2Maximal oxygen uptake in Danish adolescents 16?19 years of ageEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 56, No. 1Longitudinal Comparison of Aerobic Power and Heart Rate Responses at Submaximal and Maximal Workloads in Active and Inactive Boys Aged 8 to 16 YearsAdolescent Smoking and its Effect on Aerobic Exercise Tolerance11 July 2016 | The Physician and Sportsmedicine, Vol. 11, No. 5Zur aeroben und anaeroben Kapazit�t sowie Catecholaminexkretion von Kindern und Jugendlichen w�hrend langdauernder submaximaler K�rperarbeitEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 48, No. 1Zur Belastbarkeit des kindlichen Organismus aus biochemischer SichtEinflu\ einer stufenweisen Laufbandergometrie bei Kindern und Erwachsenen auf die Plasmacatecholamine, die aerobe und anaerobe KapazitÄtEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 47, No. 3The Exercise Capacity of Blind Children4 March 2020 | Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, Vol. 75, No. 6Leistungsgrenzen des JugendlichenCHAPTER 6 PHYSICAL FITNESS IN CHILDHOOD AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS TO AGE MATURITY, BODY SIZE, AND NUTRITIONAL FACTORSActa Paediatrica, Vol. 70, No. s284The validity of indirect estimations of maximal oxygen uptake in children 11?12 years of ageEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 43, No. 1Work capacity of the Czechoslovakian populationEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 39, No. 3Metabolic effects of heavy physical training on female 'age-group' swimmers.British Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 12, No. 1A comparison of three W170 protocolsEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 37, No. 2Maximal O2 uptake of boys and girls ? ages 14?17European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 36, No. 2The physical working capacity of male adolescents in IrelandIrish Journal of Medical Science, Vol. 145, No. 1Effects of Physical Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children17 March 2013 | Research Quarterly. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Vol. 47, No. 1REFERENCES8 December 2008 | Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, Vol. 90, No. S399The Influence of Training on Physical Fitness in Healthy Children and Children with Chronic DiseasesMethodische Untersuchung zur indirekten Bestimmung der maximalen O2-AufnahmeEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, Vol. 32, No. 1Cardiorespiratory and Body Composition Measurements of a Select Group of High School Football Players17 March 2013 | Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Vol. 43, No. 4Zur Beurteilung der k�rperlichen Leistungsf�higkeit bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit operierten HerzfehlernZeitschrift f�r Kinderheilkunde, Vol. 112, No. 4THE INFLUENCE OF AGE AND SPORTS TRAINING IN SWIMMING ON PHYSICAL FITNESSActa Paediatrica, Vol. 60, No. s217References24 April 2009 | Acta Medica Scandinavica, Vol. 184, No. S495 More from this issue > Volume 22Issue 4April 1967Pages 655-8 https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1967.22.4.655PubMed6023178History Published online 1 April 1967 Published in print 1 April 1967 Metrics