Assessment of the Relationship between Body Weight Status and Physical Literacy in 8 to 12 Year Old Pakistani School Children: The PAK-IPPL Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Physical literacy (PL) is a multidimensional concept, since it fosters lifetime engagement in physical activities and reduces obesity; however, empirical evidence is lacking to support this association. This study first aimed to establish PL levels stratified by normal weight children and children with overweight and obesity. Furthermore, this study determined a correlation between PL domains and BMI by weight status among South Punjab school children. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1360 (Boys: 675 and Girls: 685) children aged 8 to 12, and was conducted using CAPL-2. T-tests and chi-square were used to determine the difference between categorical variables, with MANOVA used to compare weight statuses. Spearman correlation was employed to determine the correlation between variables; p < 0.05 was considered significant. (3) Results: Normal weight children had significantly higher PL and domain scores, except for the knowledge domain. Most children with normal weights were at the achieving and excelling levels, while children with overweight and obesity were at the beginning and progressing levels. The correlation among PL domains in normal and overweight and obese children ranged from weak to strong (r = 0.001 to 0.737), and the knowledge domain was inversely correlated with the motivation domain (r = −0.023). PL and domain scores were inversely correlated to BMI, except for the knowledge domain. (4) Conclusions: Children with normal weight tend to have higher PL and domain scores, while those with overweight or obesity tend to have lower scores. There was a positive relationship between normal weight and higher PL and domain scores, and an inverse relationship was observed between BMI and higher PL scores.

Establishment of health related physical fitness evaluation system for school adolescents aged 12–16 in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

“…It can help identify individuals at risk of developing musculoskeletal problems due to poor core stability, such as lower back pain or postural abnormalities ( 53 , 54 ). It can motivate adolescents to improve their fitness level and overall health by setting achievable goals for increasing their plank time ( 27 , 55 ). Lastly, the plank test can help to promote good posture and balance, which are important for preventing falls and maintaining proper body alignment ( 56 ).…”

“…The global prevalence of obesity, SB, physical inactivity, and low level of HRPF among adolescents, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, is a complex health problem ( 25 , 26 ). However, limited previous research has been found to focus on these health issues, with few studies examining PF, PA, and SB among adolescents in Pakistan ( 25 , 27 , 28 ). Furthermore, previous studies were limited by factors such as sample size, age differences, socioeconomic disparities, and other potential confounding variables that may affect the results ( 28 , 29 ).…”

Urdu Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy-2 (CAPL-2) Questionnaires: A Reliability Analysis in Pakistani Children

“…This cross-sectional study is a part of the Pakistan Initiative to Promote Physical Literacy (PAK-IPPL) among children [52], which aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Urdu version of the CAPL-2 questionnaire among school-aged children in Multan city. The study employed convenience sampling techniques [20,53] to collect data from 8-to 12-year-old children.…”

“…The inclusion criteria for this study were as follows: (a) students without having chronic diseases and medical conditions; (b) no formal diagnosis of motor, physical, or mental disorders, which could influence study participation; and (c) students who comprehended the study requirements and exhibited a willingness to fulfil them. If participants did not meet these criteria, they were replaced with another student from the same age group and school; detailed criteria have been discussed in previous studies [52,57,58].…”

Validation of The Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy – CAPL-2 Questionnaire for German and Polish School Children

“…Recently, the complete CAPL-2 has been validated worldwide for the target group, in Greece (Dania et al, 2020), China (Li et al, 2020), Denmark (Elsborg et al, 2021), Iran (Valadi & Cairney, 2023), and Pakistan (Liu et al (2023). Also, CAPL-2 questionnaires have been validated among Spanish children (Pastor-Cisneros et al, 2022).…”