Relationship between Type and Intensity of Sports Activities and the Prevalence of Overweight in Serbian School Children (original) (raw)
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Nutrición Hospitalaria
Objectives: the aims of the study were to provide gender-and age-specific physical fitness levels among Serbian schoolchildren and to identify prevalence of overweight and obesity. Methods: a sample of 6,188 boys and 6,023 girls aged nine to 14 years were assessed using the physical fitness battery established through the National Fitness Project of Serbia. Physical fitness levels were determined for body height, body weight and body mass index and for six physical fitness tests (sit and reach, 4 x 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, 30 sec sit-ups, bent arm hang, 20-m shuttle run). Centile smoothed curves for the 5 rd , 25 th , 50 th , 75 th and 95 th percentiles were calculated using Cole's LMS method. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was identified applying cutoff points for children (International Obesity Task Force). Results: the results revealed that anthropometric measures were higher in boys than in girls. In addition, boys had better physical fitness levels for all tests except for the sit and reach test, where girls performed slightly better. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity amounts to 24.8% (19.8% overweight and 5% obese). With respect to gender, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in boys (27%) compared to girls (22.4%). Conclusion: the presented data are the most up-to-date gender-and age-specific physical fitness levels for Serbian schoolchildren aged 9-14 years. The findings regarding prevalence in overweight and obesity indicated an alarming trend when compared to similar data from other similar studies (in European countries).
In T. Iancheva (Ed.), International Scientific Congress 'Applied Sports Sciences' and Balkan Scientific Congress 'Physical Education, Sports, Health', 2019
The health-related physical fitness of children, alongside overweight and obesity rates, have been shown to be of great interest amongst physical education teachers, sports coaches, scientists, and health practitioners. Physical fitness is a major factor, which can predict the health status in the later phases of children lives. The aim of this study was to assess the health-related physical fitness levels in primary school children, in addition to providing estimates for overweight and obesity for children at this age. This study consisted of 118 primary school children (64 girls and 54 boys from Sofia, Bulgaria) between the ages of 7 and 11. The participants completed the Alpha-Fit health-related physical fitness test battery, which included anthropometric measurements and different tests (handgrip strength, standing long jump, 4x10m shuttle run test, and 20m multistage fitness test). The mean percentile scores of height, weight and BMI in all participants were within the WHO norms. However, the individual BMI assessment showed that 20.3% of all primary school children were ‘overweight’ (BMI > 85th percentile), 8.5% were ‘obese’ (BMI > 97th percentile), and 13.5% were assessed as ‘thin’ (BMI < 15th percentile). The results of this study showed that lower levels of physical fitness are associated with overweight and obesity in primary school children.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate physical activity and physical fitness levels in children 7-8 years old with different body mass index (BMI). Methods: Eighty nine children (age 7.6 ± 0.4) participated in this study. BMI was used as obesity indicator and children were categorized in normal-weight and overweight/obese groups. Daily physical activity was assessed by RT3 accelerometer (Stayhealthy Inc, Monrovia, CA) and physical fitness was assessed using the European physical fitness test battery (Eurofit). Results: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant differences in the average daily total counts of physical activity and in scores of four fitness tests between the overweight/obese and normal-weight group (p>0.05). However, boys were significantly more physically active than girls (p<0.05) and the level of physical activity was higher on weekdays than on weekend for both BMI groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that physical activity is not the main contributing factor for childhood overweight at this age. Sufficient levels of daily physical activity were also shown to lead in good physical performance.
Correlation between Fitness and Fatness in 6-14-year Old Serbian School Children
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 2011
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/m 2 , 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 (VO 2 max) 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.
Physical Activity Level and Obesity Prevalence of Primary and Secondary Students
Anthropologist, 2014
This study aimed at examining physical activity level and obesity prevalence of Turkish students at age of 6-12 according to age and gender variables. The study covered 2378 children in total. Researchers used pedometers in order to determine physical activity level of children, and evaluated the pedometer score standards. Body compositions were determined as per Body Mass Index (BMI) and evaluated under BMI standards. Independent t test, one-way analysis of variance test, Tukey HSD test, and Chi-square test were used in this study. In the pedometer step counts, there were differences associated with gender in each age (p<0,001). There was a significant difference in BMI values and the pedometer step counts of boys and girls according to their ages (p<0.001). There was difference in both groups according to age (p<0.001). There were gender-related differences in ages (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively) in standard value of the pedometer step counts and the pedometer step counts. It is considered important for public health to bring body compositions of boys and girls up to normal levels by increasing their physical activity levels.
Association of extracurricular sports participation with obesity in Greek children
The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 2011
Childhood obesity has become a modern epidemic with escalating rates. The aim of our study was the assessment of the association between extracurricular sports participation with the obesity status among Greek schoolchildren aged 10-12 years. Seven-hundred children (323 boys) aged 10-12 years were evaluated through a standardized questionnaire. Several lifestyle, dietary and physical activity attributes were recorded. Children according to the median hours of participation in after-school structured physical activity were classified as participating for more or less than 3 hours per week. Body height and mass were measured and body mass index was calculated in order to classify children as overweight or obese according to IOTF classification. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used in order to evaluate the association between the participation of more than 3 hours per week in structured physical activity after school with overweight or obesity. A total of 48.9% of the boys an...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Background: Physical fitness (PF) levels correlate with health hallmarks at all ages. In this study, w aimed to determine the PF level of schoolchildren from the Campania Region (Italy) through health-related PF (HRPF) components, taking into account body weight and sport practice (SP). Methods: PF level was determined in 565 schoolchildren aged 10–13 (11.7 ± 1.0 yrs; m: 353, f: 212) using some of the Eurofit battery tests. Results: 77% children practiced sport, boys more than girls (86% vs. 63%, respectively; p < 0.05). Boys performed better than girls (p < 0.05) in the Plate Tapping, Standing Broad Jump, Bent-Arm Hang, and 10 × 5 m Shuttle Run tests; girls performed better in the Sit-and-Reach Test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overweight/obese status negatively affects the muscular strength of lower limbs, even if it progressively improves during growth. SP was revealed to be a determinant in performance only in some PF tests, likely due to the heterogeneous training level amo...
Nutrition and Physical Activity Behavior in 11–14-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Serbia
2021
Regular physical activity and healthy diet have a significant positive impact on children’s health. Lack of physical activity increases the risk of various diseases, while obesity has become an alarming health problem worldwide. The aim of this study is to investigate the patterns of physical activity and diet among 11–14-year-old school children in Serbia. The sample included 623 primary school children, of whom 333 were boys (53.45%) and 290 were girls (46.55%). The children were also divided according to their age/grade: fifth grade/11 years (24.40% (n = 152; M = 84, F = 68)), sixth grade/12 years (25.68% (n = 160; M = 91, F = 69)), seventh grade/13 years (26.81% (n = 167; M = 83, F = 84)) and eighth grade/14 years (23.11% (n = 144; M = 75, F = 69)). Children’s lifestyle was assessed using two subscales of questionnaires based on the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile model II. The Mann–Whitney U test showed no statistically significant difference between boys and girls in the va...
Central European journal of sport sciences and medicine, 2022
introduction: Physical activity is one of the essential factors in maintaining health and healthy body weight. As the pandemic of overweight and obesity continues to grow, it is crucial that children follow the recommended standards for physical activity from an early age. Both overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Excess body weight in childhood favors the maintenance of this problem in adulthood. Purpose of the study: the aim of the study was to evaluate the physical activity among school-aged children, to analyze individual components of body composition and to determine the influence of physical activity on maintaining normal body weight. Material and methods: We undertook to assess of the frequency of participation of children in additional sports activities of 245 school-aged children (7-15 years) was examined and analyzed the body composition of the study participants, and then the correlation of the additional physical activity with the maintenance of normal individual components of body composition was calculated. results: 61% of childrens were characterized by normal body weight appropriate for their age. in the group of children declaring participation in extracurricular sport activities, the number of subjects with normal body weight was 65%, while in the group of subjects who declared no extracurricular activity of any kind, the percentage was 58%. Conclusions: it turned out that the number of children engaged in physical activity outside of school is alarmingly low. the study found that children who participated in any extracurricular sports activity did not show a statistically significant difference in the frequency of maintaining a normal body weight (p > 0.05). However, on detailed percentage analysis, we can see a slight advantage among those who undertook additional physical activity.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2018
This study aimed to examine: (i) the level of physical activity (PA), obesity indices and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among boys and girls in primary school, and (ii) to determine the association of obesity indices and PA with CRF for the total number of participants, and then separately for boys and girls. 753 sixth to ninth grade girls and boys aged 10-14 years took part in this cross-sectional study. The PA was assessed by the "Physical Activity Questionnaire-Children" and CRF was assessed by the Maximal multistage a 20 m shuttle run test. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences (WC), and waist to height ratio (WHtR) were considered as obesity indices. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore correlates of CRF. The results obtained showed the prevalence of general overweight and obesity was 25.5% in our sample which was lower than that in the regional estimate (e.g., ∼28%) for Eastern Europe. Among all participants, CRF was associated with male sex, older age, a lower WC percentile, higher WHtR, and higher level of PA. The model accounted for 24% of the variance. CRF was associated with older age and higher level of PA among girls and boys. Lower WC percentile was a significant determinant of CRF among boys. In conclusion, general overweight/obesity was not independently associated with CRF. Those with better CRF were more likely to be male and older, had a higher level of PA and lower central adiposity. These findings emphasize the importance of supporting school age children to take a part in programmed physical activity regardless of their body composition.