Declining fitness and physical education lessons in UK adolescents

Weedon, Benjamin David; Liu, Francesca; Mahmoud, Wala; Burden, Samuel Joseph; Whaymand, Luke; Esser, Patrick; Collett, Johnny; Izadi, Hooshang; Joshi, Shawn; Meaney, Andrew; Delextrat, Anne; Kemp, Steve; Jones, Alexander; Dawes, Helen

doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001165

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Given the worsening CRF of children and adolescents, [20][21][22] recommendations about the intensity and duration of PA required to reverse this trend are urgently needed and should be based on robust evidence. As guidelines are currently based on combined MVPA targets, we consider this an important aim.…”

Section: What This Study Addsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intensity and Duration of Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

et al. 2022

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OBJECTIVES: There is no clear guidance on the intensity and duration of physical activity (PA) that adolescents require to maximise cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). We aimed to determine the strength of associations between each PA intensity and CRF, independently of other intensities, and the PA duration at each intensity associated with maximal CRF. METHODS: PA and CRF were assessed in 339 adolescents aged 13 to 14 years by wrist-worn accelerometers and 20-m shuttle runs, respectively. Partial regression modeling was used to construct residualized PA variables at each PA intensity that were uncorrelated with each other. Moving average models were optimally fitted to determine relationships between residualized PA variables and CRF. Threshold regression models determined the duration of PA above which CRF improvement was minimal. RESULTS: Greater vigorous PA (VPA) was associated with better CRF until about 20 minutes of daily VPA, when the relationship plateaued. Moderate and light PA, and sedentary time were not associated with CRF in partial models. Adolescents performing 14 (range 12–17) minutes of daily VPA had median CRF. Participants in the upper quartile of VPA had 1.03 z-scores higher CRF than those in the lowest quartile (95% confidence interval: 0.75 to 1.30). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that 20 minutes of daily VPA may be best for maximizing CRF in adolescence. As moderate-to-vigorous PA guidelines can be satisfied by only undertaking moderate PA, with no apparent independent benefit, we suggest that future guidelines focus on VPA alone, simplifying public health messaging.

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Section: What This Study Addsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intensity and Duration of Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

et al. 2022

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“…Other studies, in addition to highlighting significant lower physical fitness measures (grip strength, standing long jump, 20-meter shuttle run) and motor competence (throwing and catching skills) in schoolchildren aged 13-14 years from 2014 to 2019, reported the reduction of the 16% of the hours spent in physical education between 2010 and 2019 [40]. Data revealed that the normal-weight group has highlighted the most important decline in fitness levels and motor competence compared to the overweight-obese peers [41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Increase in BMI and Negative Muscular Strength Trends in Adolescents in 1990 and 2020: Results from the Regional Observatory of Motor Development in Southern Italy

Monacis¹,

Colella²

2023

Sport and Fitness in Children and Adolescents - A Multidimensional View

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In the last decades, low levels of physical activity and sedentary lifestyles were associated with the progressive decline in physical fitness in children and adolescents. The present cross-sectional study aims to assess the evolution of muscular strength in adolescents in an Apulia province (Italy), comparing motor performance in 1990 and 2020. The sample consists of 107 adolescents attending secondary school in Lecce in 1990, and 118 attending the same school in 2020 (11–12 years old). After dividing the sample according to gender and BMI, muscular strength was assessed with Standing Long Jump (SLJ) and Medicine Ball Throw 2 kg (MBT). Statistical analysis included ANOVA to highlight significant differences in motor performances in 1990 and 2020 according to gender and BMI, and linear regression to investigate the variance explained by BMI on SLJ and MBT. The results showed (a) lower motor performance in 2020 compared to 1990, (b) the increase in the percentage of overweight-obese from 1990 to 2020, and (c) a negative association between BMI and the SLJ in 2020. Findings suggest the need to assess and monitor physical fitness—as a health status indicator—in adolescents, and promote further opportunities to encourage and expand the time spent in physical activity in Apulia.

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“…It is widely reported that school-aged children have progressively worse physical fitness [ 73 ]. Due to limited time for a physical education class, leisure activities, adapting unhealthy dietary habits, and increased sedentary behavior (exposure to screens) resulting in excess body weight [ 13 , 74 ]. Obesity is also associated with decreased physical and motor abilities in school-aged children [ 72 , 75 , 76 ], specifically those living in rural areas [ 31 , 35 , 56 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Obesity on the Fitness Performance of School-Aged Children Living in Rural Areas—The West Attica Project

Tsolakis

Cherouveim

Skouras

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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This study aimed to investigate the relationship of body mass index (BMI) with muscle and cardiorespiratory fitness in children living within rural areas (regional unit of West Attica) in Greece. Participants included 399 students (187 boys, 212 girls), ages 8–12 years old, and were evaluated in physical performance tests. The point prevalence of overweight and obesity was 21.39% and 26.20% in boys, and 19.90% and 23.79% in girls. Significant differences were observed in all physical performance tests (handgrip, long jump, shuttle run, trunk flexors, and extensors endurance) between normal weight and obese participants. BMI was positively correlated with handgrip (r = 0.442−0.462, p < 0.001). There was a negative association with long jump (r = −0.206, p < 0.001), 20 m shuttle run (r = −0.394, p < 0.001), trunk flexors (r = −0.403, p < 0.001) and trunk extensors endurance (r = −0.280, p < 0.001). The regression analysis showed that 20–30% of the overall variation for physical performance assessments could be accounted for by BMI, age, and sex. With the exception of the long jump and the endurance of the trunk extensors, BMI alone may explain more than 10% of the outcome of most tests. This study highlights the determinant of BMI on muscle and cardiorespiratory fitness. The management of obesity should begin early in childhood to prevent adult chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

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Declining fitness and physical education lessons in UK adolescents

Cited by 17 publications

References 40 publications

Intensity and Duration of Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Intensity and Duration of Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Increase in BMI and Negative Muscular Strength Trends in Adolescents in 1990 and 2020: Results from the Regional Observatory of Motor Development in Southern Italy

The Impact of Obesity on the Fitness Performance of School-Aged Children Living in Rural Areas—The West Attica Project

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