Determinant Factors of Physical Fitness in European Children

Overview

Journal Int J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2016 Apr 5

PMID 27042830

Citations 53

Authors

Mahmoud Zaqout

Krishna Vyncke

Luis A Moreno

Pilar De Miguel-Etayo

Fabio Lauria

Denes Molnar

Lauren Lissner

Monica Hunsberger

Toomas Veidebaum

Michael Tornaritis

Lucia A Reisch

Karin Bammann

Ole Sprengeler

Wolfgang Ahrens

Nathalie Michels

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to explore the determinants of physical fitness in European children aged 6-11 years, cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Methods: There were sufficient data on 4903 children (50.6 % girls) on measured physical fitness (cardio-respiratory, muscular strength, flexibility, balance, and speed) and possible determinants related to child characteristics, child lifestyle and parental factors. Multivariate and mixed linear regression models were conducted.

Results: Age, sex, children's BMI and physical activity were independent and strong determinants of children's fitness. Significant but small effects were found for low maternal BMI, high psychosocial well-being and fruit and vegetable intake as protective determinants. Sleep duration, breakfast intake, parental age and education and paternal BMI did not have a consistently significant effect on physical fitness. The role of determinants depended on children's sex and the specific PF component. Longitudinal analyses especially highlighted the importance of child's BMI as physical fitness determinant, independent of physical activity.

Conclusions: BMI together with physical activity, diet and psychosocial factors are modifiable targets to enhance physical fitness. This calls for policy approaches that combine these factors in a systematic way.

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