Top 10 International Priorities for Physical Fitness Research and Surveillance Among Children and Adolescents: A Twin-Panel Delphi Study

Abstract

Background The measurement of physical fitness has a history that dates back nearly 200 years. Recently, there has been an increase in international research and surveillance on physical fitness creating a need for setting international priorities that could help guide future efforts. Objective This study aimed to produce a list of the top 10 international priorities for research and surveillance on physical fitness among children and adolescents. Methods Using a twin-panel Delphi method, two independent panels consisting of 46 international experts were identified (panel 1 = 28, panel 2 = 18). The panel participants were asked to list up to five priorities for research or surveillance (round 1), and then rated the items from their own panel on a 5-point Likert scale of importance (round 2). In round 3, experts were asked to rate the priorities identified by the other panel. Results There was strong between-panel agreement (panel 1: rs = 0.76, p < 0.01; panel 2: rs = 0.77, p < 0.01) in the priorities identified. The list of the final top 10 priorities included (i) “conduct longitudinal studies to assess changes in fitness and associations with health”. This was followed by (ii) “use fitness surveillance to inform decision making”, and (iii) “implement regular and consistent international/national fitness surveys using common measures”. Conclusions The priorities identified in this study provide guidance for future international collaborations and research efforts on the physical fitness of children and adolescents over the next decade and beyond.

European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network

“…Indeed, the use of fitness surveillance to inform decision making is one of the top-ranked priorities in paediatric fitness according to international experts. 55 As a timely example, fitness monitoring can flag a sudden decline in fitness, and therefore health, due to unique/unexpected situations, such as COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns and the substantial, rapid declines in youth fitness levels reported in countries with fitness surveillance systems. 56 57 Thus, interventions for specific target groups can be implemented to prevent worse deterioration of fitness levels.…”

“…For instance, policy makers at education, sport and health institutions can obtain valuable information about regional differences or temporal trends by monitoring fitness levels over time and use these reference values and the FitBack tool for proper sex-specific and age-specific interpretation. Indeed, the use of fitness surveillance to inform decision making is one of the top-ranked priorities in paediatric fitness according to international experts 55. As a timely example, fitness monitoring can flag a sudden decline in fitness, and therefore health, due to unique/unexpected situations, such as COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns and the substantial, rapid declines in youth fitness levels reported in countries with fitness surveillance systems 56 57.…”

Florentine Normative Values for Physical Fitness in Adolescents Aged 14–15 Years

“…The main issues addressed in this study were recently investigated by a panel of international experts who defined the top 10 international priorities for research and surveillance on physical fitness among children and adolescents [ 29 ]. The present study confirms the guidelines suggested by the expert group, in particular, highlighting Priority 1 (Conduct Longitudinal Studies to Assess Changes in Fitness and Associations with Health), 2 (Use Fitness Surveillance to Inform Decision Making), and 7 (Assess the Reliability and Validity of Fitness Measures).…”

“…Firstly, the battery of tests differs from those proposed in the European standards. However, as stated by the panel of international experts [ 29 ], there is no standard battery for physical fitness testing. The authors, therefore, chose the tests that best suited the sociocultural context of the Florentine area.…”

Associations between combinations of 24‐h movement behaviors and physical fitness among Chinese adolescents: Sex and age disparities

“…5 Many countries accordingly incorporate core indicators reflecting the various components of physical fitness into routine tests for adolescents to monitor their physical function and health status, such as body mass index (BMI), forced vital capacity, 50 m dash, sit-and-reach, standing long lump, endurance running, 1-min pull-ups, and sit-ups, and then combine the specific indicators into a physical fitness indicator (PFI) to comprehensively represent an individual's level. 3 Despite mounting evidence of the importance and growing national policies, 6 the general trend of deterioration in physical fitness level of adolescents in the 21st century is widespread across the world, 3,7 reminding pressing need to adjust existing policies and interventions as appropriate.…”