Health-related physical fitness and physical activity in elementary school students (original) (raw)
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Assessing Levels of Physical Fitness in Elementary School Students
This study aimed to examine the extent to which fourth-grade students achieved a healthy fitness zone in relation to the NASPE standard 4, as a result of participating in a three-year Carol White Physical Education Program (PEP) project intervention. Participants in this study were nine physical education teachers and their students in grade 4 who were enrolled in nine different elementary schools within the same school district. The students' cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance were assessed with four FITNESSGRAM test items during regular physical education classes in the PEP year 2 and PEP year 3. Descriptive statistics results indicated that the percentages of the students' reaching the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) on each test in PEP year 2 and year 3 ranged from high to very high (68.1% to 89.2%). The results of the t-tests indicated that the boys had statistically significant higher mean scores than the girls on PACER and push-up tests. In contrast, the girls' mean scores were statistically significant higher than the boy's on the trunk lift test. No significant differences were found on the curl-up test between boys and girls in the two years. It was concluded that at least two-thirds of the students met HFZ for the four fitness tests in PEP year 2 and year 3.
Habitual Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Fourth-Grade Children
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1993
To examine the relationship between habitual physical activity and components of health-related physical fitness in children. Cross-sectional survey with correlational analysis. Seven public elementary schools in a suburban southern California city. Five hundred twenty-eight healthy fourth-grade children (274 boys and 254 girls), 85% of whom were non-Hispanic whites. Ninety-eight percent of eligible students participated. None. Results of six measures of physical activity in children (monitoring by accelerometer, parent report, and child self-reports of weekday activity, weekend activity, and summer involvement in activity classes and youth sports) were combined in a physical activity index. This index of habitual physical activity was examined in relation to measures of five components of health-related fitness: the mile run, skin-fold tests, pull-ups, sit-ups, and the sit-and-reach test. The physical activity index was significantly associated with all five fitness components. The canonical correlation was .29. Active children appear to engage in a sufficient variety of activities to enhance multiple components of health-related fitness.
Physical Activity Behavior, Aerobic Fitness and Quality of Life in School-Age Children
The aim of this article is to assess the differences in sedentary and physical activity behavior, physical fitness and quality of life in school-age children according to their adiposity state (BMI-SD= Body Mass Index Standard deviation) and gender. 352 children participated in the study (11.99 ± 1.5 years). Children were assigned to a normal weight group (NW= Normal Weight) (n=175) or to an overweight/obese group (OW/OB= Overweight and Obese) (n=177). The percentage of OW/OB was significantly superior (p<0.05) in boys (55.4%) than in girls. Boys reported spending 2:19h/week (sd= 2:33; p<0.01) watching TV and 3:21h/week (4:28; p<0.001) more than girls practicing moderate-high intensity physical activity. In contrast, in weight groups differences appeared only at high intensity activities to which NW children devoted 52minuts/week (2:33; p<0.01) longer than OW/OB children. NW and OW/OB groups presented significant (p<0.05) differences in all the physical fitness tests, except for the medicine ball toss one. Children´s involvement in at least three hours a week of physical activity were associated to a lower prevalence of overweight or obesity, and to higher physical fitness in children.
Pediatric Exercise Science, 2011
The study investigated associations between selected physical activity correlates among 299 adolescents (90 boys, age 12–14 years) from 3 English schools. Physical activity was assessed by self-report and accelerometry. Correlates represented biological, predisposing, and demographic factors as described in the Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model. Boys engaged in more self-reported (p < .01) and accelerometer assessed physical activity than girls (p = .02). Positive associations between sex (male), BMI, Perceived PE Ability, Perceived PE Worth, number of enrolled students, and physical activity outcomes were evident (p < .05). School-based physical activity promotion should emphasize sex-specific enhancement of students’ perceived PE competence and enjoyment.
Health-related fitness values during childhood (from age 11 to 16 years) were analyzed in relation to changes in physical activity level. One hundred fifty-eight children were monitored over a 4-year period. Twice a year, they performed six physical fitness tests: standing broad jump, 10 Â 5-meter shuttle run, sit-and-reach, handgrip, number of sit-ups in 30 s, and 20-m shuttle run. Height was measured four times per year to assess age at peak height velocity. Physical activity was assessed with a self-administered questionnaire at baseline and at the end of the follow-up. The physical activity level was defined by the frequency and the time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Two groups were constituted: regularly active and sedentary. A multiple linear multilevel regression analysis was used to analyze the longitudinal relationships between changes in physical activity and physical fitness levels. Corrections were made for both time-dependent (time) and time-independent (sex) variables. Except for flexibility, boys' fitness performances increased more than that for the girls. Positive and significant (P < 0.05) regression coefficients were found with the regularly active for standing broad jump, 20-m shuttle run, number of sit-ups, 10 Â 5-m shuttle run in both sexes, and for the girls' sit-and-reach performance. Increasing or decreasing physical activity level was not associated with changes in fitness performances over time, except for flexibility for the girls and the 20-m shuttle run for the boys. From childhood to adolescence, increasing physical activity is not sufficient to be more fit. The children who are stayed the most active were the fittest, particularly the girls. Am. J. Hum.
Contribution of the school environment to physical fitness in children and youth
Journal of physical activity & health, 2010
This study analyzed the effect of school practices regarding the provision of physical education (PE) on the physical fitness of children and youth. Using an untapped sample of approximately 5000 5th and 7th graders from 93 schools in Georgia in 2006, individual-level and merged school-level data on physical education were analyzed. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to estimate the potential influence of the school environment on measured health outcomes. Controls were included for grade, gender, race/ethnicity, urbanicity, and county of residence. Variables measuring 8 school-level practices pertaining to physical education were found to have significant effects on cardiovascular fitness as measured by the FitnessGram, with signs in the expected direction. These variables, combined with demographic variables, explained 29.73% of the variation in the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run but only 4.53% of the variation in the body mass index. School-level va...
The study was intended to examine the relationship of physical activity levels with selected physical parameters viz. power, speed, legs explosive power, handgrip strength, upper body strength, abdominal strength and flexibility among the school children of age 11-12 years. A sample of 60 male children was selected using purposive sampling technique. Data was collected by administering physical fitness tests and a self-reported questionnaire was used to assess physical activity levels. Data was analyzed by employing bivariate correlation, putting alpha level at 0.05. It was found that physical activity levels has significant relationship with power, speed, leg's explosive strength, endurance, upper body strength and abdominal strength (p< 0.05).
School and Neighborhood Predictors of Physical Fitness in Elementary School Students
Journal of School Health, 2017
Background Physical activity programs using components of resistance have the potential to improve health in school children. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a school-based resistance exercise program on physical fitness in elementary school students. Methods The sample was 256 children (mean age = 8.3 ± 2.5 years; 119 girls) from kindergarten to 5th grade. Participants performed a 10-min resistance exercise 2-3 times in each school day. Physical fitness outcomes were assessed using President's Physical Fitness Challenge test. Measures were collected at baseline and at a 6-month post-test time point. A 2 × 2 doubly MANOVA was employed to examine the effect of sex and time. Results The multivariate model was statistically significant with a main time effect (Wilks' λ = 0.19, F = 290.9, P < 0.001). Follow-univariate tests found significant differences between time-points on flex arm hang (P = 0.033), shuttle run (P < 0.001), and 1-mile run/walk times (P < 0.001). Conclusions A 6-month resistance exercise program improved upper body strength and cardiorespiratory endurance in elementary school aged children. The use of resistance exercise intervention during school day can be effectively used to promote physical fitness and ultimately improve the health of children.
The Relationship between Physical Activity and Physical Fitness of Elementary School Students
International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 2024
The aim of this research was to determine the effect of physical activity on the physical fitness of elementary school students. The sample in this research was elementary school students in the city of Medan with a total of 60 students. This type of research uses correlational variables with physical activity and physical fitness. The results of the research show that there is a significant correlation between physical activity variables and physical fitness, and the correlation coefficient is 0.234 with a (p) value of 0.043, which means that the significant relationship between physical activity and students' physical fitness is acceptable. The correlation results above obtained a determinant coefficient value of 0.059. The result to find out the percentage of the relationship between these two variables is 0.070 x 100 = 7%. So, 7% of students' physical fitness, which is influenced by physical activity and 93% is influenced by other factors. The conclusion in this study is that the results of data analysis prove that there is a significant correlation between physical activity and students' physical fitness, physical activity has a low relationship to physical fitness and the direction of the relationship is linear.