Health-Related Physical Fitness, BMI, physical activity and time spent at a computer screen in 6 and 7-year-old children from rural areas in Poland

Abstract

The objective of the study was determination of the effect of various forms of physical activity, BMI, and time devoted to computer games on the level of Health-Related Physical Fitness (H-RF) in 6-7-year-old children from Polish rural areas. The study covered 25,816 children aged 6-7: 12,693 girls and 13,123 boys. The evaluations included body height and weight, and 4 H-RF fitness components (trunk strength, explosive leg power, arm strength and flexibility). The BMI was calculated for each child. The Questionnaire directed to parents was designed to collect information concerning the time devoted by children to computer games, spontaneous and additional physical activity. The strength of the relationships between dependent and independent variables was determined using the Spearman's rank correlation (RSp), and the relationship by using the regression analysis. The BMI negatively affected the level of all the H-RF components analysed (p=0.000). The negative effect of computer games revealed itself only with respect to flexibility (p=0.000), explosive leg power (p=0.000) and trunk muscle strength (p=0.000). A positive effect of spontaneous activity was observed for flexibility (p=0.047), explosive leg power (p=0.000), and arm strength (p=0.000). Additional activity showed a positive relationship with trunk muscles strength (p=0.000), and explosive leg power (p=0.000). The results of studies suggest that it is necessary to pay attention to the prevention of diseases related with the risk of obesity and overweight among Polish rural children as early as at pre-school age. There is also a need during education for shaping in these children the awareness of concern about own body, and the need for active participation in various forms of physical activity.

Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth: an update

“…Higher duration or frequency of screen time (2/2 studies) and computer use (2/2 studies) were also significantly associated with lower muscular strength/endurance (Ciesla et al 2014;Grontved et al 2013;Tucker et al 2014). For 1 study, significant findings were observed for explosive leg power and lower trunk power but not for strength of arm (Ciesla et al 2014). Mainly null findings were observed for accelerometer-derived sedentary time, TV viewing, and video game use with muscular strength/endurance.…”

“…Furthermore, inconsistent findings were observed for accelerometer-derived sedentary time and primarily null findings were observed for computer use with cardiorespiratory fitness. Higher duration or frequency of screen time (2/2 studies) and computer use (2/2 studies) were also significantly associated with lower muscular strength/endurance (Ciesla et al 2014;Grontved et al 2013;Tucker et al 2014). For 1 study, significant findings were observed for explosive leg power and lower trunk power but not for strength of arm (Ciesla et al 2014).…”

“…Mainly null findings were observed for accelerometer-derived sedentary time, TV viewing, and video game use with muscular strength/endurance. Similar to other components of fitness, higher duration or frequency of screen time (1/1 study) and computer use (1/1 study) were significantly associated with lower levels of flexibility (Ciesla et al 2014;Tucker et al 2014); whereas, accelerometer-derived sedentary time was not associated with flexibility. Finally, 2 studies that created an overall fitness score, comprising measures of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength/endurance, and flexibility, found that a higher duration of screen time (Lämmle et al 2013) or TV viewing (Drenowatz et al 2014) was significantly associated with lower overall fitness.…”

Analysis of factors associated with excess weight in school children

“…, 25 , 27 Approximately 90% of obesity cases are considered idiopathic and 10% are attributed to hormonal and genetic causes. The latest advances in research indicate the participation of leptin, the hypothalamic melanocortin receptor 4 and mitochondrial uncoupling proteins in the pathogenesis of obesity/overweight, which opens new possibilities for the successful therapeutic management of these conditions,29 especially in cases of severe obesity and when measures aimed at changing habits and lifestyle were not successful.…”

Relación entre condición física, actividad física y diferentes parámetros antropométricos en escolares de Santiago (Chile)

“…Diversos autores ya habían encontrado estas correlaciones previamente, tanto con metodologías objetivas (22) como a través de cuestionarios (23). Las asociaciones positivas con el resto de componentes de la condición física estudiados también coinciden con otros estudios previos (24), aunque nuestros resultados muestran unas correlaciones mucho más fuertes.…”