Correlation Between Fitness and Fatness in 6-14-year Old Serbian School Children

Overview

Journal J Health Popul Nutr

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Nutritional Sciences
Public Health

Date 2011 May 3

PMID 21528790

Citations 21

Authors

Sergej M Ostojic

Marko D Stojanovic

Vladan Stojanovic

Jelena Maric

Nenad Njaradi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Lack of physical activity and/or physical fitness are some reasons epidemiologists suggest for increase in childhood obesity in the last 20 years, with clear correlation between body composition and physical activity and/or physical fitness yet to be determined. The objectives of the study were to (a) investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Serbian school children and (b) determine the relationship between indicators of physical activity and body fatness in Serbian school children aged 6-14 years. The study subjects included a representative sample of Serbian elementary school children (n = 1,121-754 boys and 367 girls-aged 6.2-14.1 years), all of whom were recruited in the OLIMP (Obesity and Physical Activity among Serbian School Children) study. Anthropometric and physical fitness values, including body mass index (BMI), waist-circumference, body-fat, and aerobic capacity, were measured in all the children. Significant differences were found between male and female children regarding the prevalence of obesity (6.8% vs 8.2%, p < 0.05, boys and girls respectively). Boys had significantly lower body mass, BMI, waist-circumference, sum of six skinfolds, and body-fat compared to their female counterparts (p < 0.05). The highest level of weight, BMI, body-fat, and waist-circumference observed in a 14-year old girl (96.3 kg, 40.5 kg/m2, 54.5%, 91.4 cm respectively) implies the existence of extreme obesity in Serbian school children. The negative relationship between body-fat and maximal oxygen (VO2max) uptake was moderately high (r = -0.76; p < 0.05). The study has shown a high prevalence of adiposity among Serbian school children, with a strong negative relationship between aerobic fitness and body fatness. Data of the study emphasize the necessity to identify children with weight problems and to develop early interventions to improve physical activity in children and prevent the increase of childhood obesity.

Citing Articles

Indicators of Obesity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Croatian Children.

Badric M, Roca L, Pelemis V, Brankovic D, Zivanovic V J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2024; 9(4).

PMID: 39728234 PMC: 11676739. DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9040250.

Impact of Weight Status on Hemodynamic Parameters and Aerobic Fitness in School-Aged Children: A Study in a Rural School Community.

Lukhele N, Millard L, Breukelman G Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024; 21(10).

PMID: 39457313 PMC: 11508218. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21101340.

Assessment of aerobic exercise capacity in obesity, which expression of oxygen uptake is the best?.

Zhou N Sports Med Health Sci. 2022; 3(3):138-147.

PMID: 35784518 PMC: 9219259. DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2021.01.001.

Changes in Body Composition and Anthropomorphic Measurements in Children Participating in Swimming and Non-Swimming Activities.

Bielec G, Gozdziejewska A, Makar P Children (Basel). 2021; 8(7).

PMID: 34206210 PMC: 8307348. DOI: 10.3390/children8070529.

Can Anthropometry and Body Composition Explain Physical Fitness Levels in School-Aged Children?.

Hsu C, Chen L, Chang I, Fang W, Huang S, Lin R Children (Basel). 2021; 8(6).

PMID: 34072785 PMC: 8229107. DOI: 10.3390/children8060460.

References

Wong S, Katzmarzyk P, Nichaman M, Church T, Blair S, Ross R . Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with lower abdominal fat independent of body mass index. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004; 36(2):286-91. DOI: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000113665.40775.35. View

Flodmark C, Lissau I, Moreno L, Pietrobelli A, Widhalm K . New insights into the field of children and adolescents' obesity: the European perspective. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004; 28(10):1189-96. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802787. View

Ross R, Katzmarzyk P . Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with diminished total and abdominal obesity independent of body mass index. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27(2):204-10. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.802222. View

Tjepkema M . Adult obesity. Health Rep. 2006; 17(3):9-25. View

Roberts S, Lucas A, Hirsch J . Low energy expenditure as a contributor to infant obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000; 71(1):154-6. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/71.1.154. View

Winsley R, Armstrong N, Middlebrooke A, Ramos-Ibanez N, Williams C . Aerobic fitness and visceral adipose tissue in children. Acta Paediatr. 2006; 95(11):1435-8. DOI: 10.1080/08035250600643244. View

Tremblay M, Katzmarzyk P, Willms J . Temporal trends in overweight and obesity in Canada, 1981-1996. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002; 26(4):538-43. View

Krassas G, Tzotzas T, Tsametis C, Konstantinidis T . Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Thessaloniki, Greece. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2002; 14 Suppl 5:1319-26; discussion 1365. View

McKenzie T, Sallis J, Kolody B, Faucette F . Long-term effects of a physical education curriculum and staff development program: SPARK. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1998; 68(4):280-91. DOI: 10.1080/02701367.1997.10608009. View

10.

Kiess W, Galler A, Reich A, Muller G, Kapellen T, Deutscher J . Clinical aspects of obesity in childhood and adolescence. Obes Rev. 2002; 2(1):29-36. DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-789x.2001.00017.x. View

11.

Lee S, Arslanian S . Cardiorespiratory fitness and abdominal adiposity in youth. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006; 61(4):561-5. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602541. View

12.

Riddoch C, Savage J, Murphy N, Cran G, Boreham C . Long term health implications of fitness and physical activity patterns. Arch Dis Child. 1991; 66(12):1426-33. PMC: 1793373. DOI: 10.1136/adc.66.12.1426. View

13.

Kain J, Uauy R, Vio F, Albala C . Trends in overweight and obesity prevalence in Chilean children: comparison of three definitions. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002; 56(3):200-4. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601301. View

14.

Jackson-Leach R, Lobstein T . Estimated burden of paediatric obesity and co-morbidities in Europe. Part 1. The increase in the prevalence of child obesity in Europe is itself increasing. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2007; 1(1):26-32. DOI: 10.1080/17477160600586614. View

15.

Al-Nakeeb Y, Duncan M, Lyons M, Woodfield L . Body fatness and physical activity levels of young children. Ann Hum Biol. 2007; 34(1):1-12. DOI: 10.1080/03014460601079886. View

16.

Chen W, Lin C, Peng C, Li C, Wu H, Chiang J . Approaching healthy body mass index norms for children and adolescents from health-related physical fitness. Obes Rev. 2002; 3(3):225-32. DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-789x.2002.00064.x. View

17.

Ogden C, Flegal K, Carroll M, Johnson C . Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999-2000. JAMA. 2002; 288(14):1728-32. DOI: 10.1001/jama.288.14.1728. View

18.

Jehn M, Gittelsohn J, Treuth M, Caballero B . Prevalence of overweight among Baltimore City schoolchildren and its associations with nutrition and physical activity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006; 14(6):989-93. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2006.113. View

19.

Dugan S . Exercise for preventing childhood obesity. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2008; 19(2):205-16, vii. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2007.11.001. View

20.

McKenzie T, Li D, Derby C, Webber L, Luepker R, Cribb P . Maintenance of effects of the CATCH physical education program: results from the CATCH-ON study. Health Educ Behav. 2003; 30(4):447-62. DOI: 10.1177/1090198103253535. View