Weight Status Is Related to Health-Related Physical Fitness and Physical Activity but Not to Sedentary Behaviour in Children

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this research was to describe, examine, and compare the level of physical fitness, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour in pupils aged 6–13 in the Region of Murcia, Spain, in accordance with weight status. Methods: A total of 370 children (166 girls and 204 boys) aged 6–13 (M = 8.7; DT = 1.8) from the Region of Murcia participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. Some anthropometric parameters such as body mass index, waist circumference, as well as skinfold measurements were determined. ALPHA-FIT Test Battery was used to evaluate physical fitness. Krece Plus Short Test was used to measure physical activity level and sedentary behaviour. Results: 52.4% of the children presented excess weight (according to the World Health Organization growth references). Regarding boys, statistically significant differences were found for cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001), relative handgrip strength (p < 0.001), lower muscular strength (p < 0.001), speed-agility (p < 0.001), as well as sport activities hours (p = 0.001) among the three weight status groups (normal weight, overweight, and obesity). As for girls, statistically significant differences were found for cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.004), relative handgrip strength (p < 0.001), lower muscular strength (p < 0.001), sport activities hours (p = 0.005), as well as physical activity level (assessed by Krece Plus Test) (p = 0.017). A negative statistically significant correlation was found between body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness (rho = −0.389), lower muscular strength, (rho = −0.340), and relative handgrip strength (rho = −0.547). At the same time, a positive statistically significant relationship between body mass index and the time spent in speed-agility (rho = 0.263) was shown. Regarding waist circumference and body fat percentage, similar relationships were identified. Moreover, a greater probability of having higher cardiorespiratory fitness (OR = 1.58; CI95% = 1.38–1.82), relative handgrip strength (OR = 1.25; CI95% = 1.19–1.31), more hours of sport activities (OR = 1.40; CI95% = 1.19–1.66), and physical activity level (assessed by Krece Plus Test) (OR = 1.23; CI95% = 1.07–1.42) was noted in the normal weight group. Conclusions: Children that presented normal weight achieved higher results for health-related physical fitness and physical activity than those with excess weight; this was, however, not found to be the case for sedentary behaviour. The authors emphasise the need for changes in public policies and school-based intervention programmes to develop higher levels of both PF and PA in overweight and obese children.

Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness, fatness, hemodynamic characteristics, and sedentary behaviour in primary school-aged children

“…Regarding body weight, a statistically significant negative correlation was found with CRF. This finding is in agreement with other studies [ 29 , 30 ]. The correlation between children's height and CRF was statistically negatively significant, in contrast to what other studies suggest [ 31 , 32 ].…”

Analysis of the Relationship between Obesity Factors and Health-Related Physical Fitness Factors among People with Intellectual Disabilities in South Korea

“…Meanwhile, muscular strength and flexibility were not shown to significantly affect obesity-related factors in intellectually disabled people. These results are similar to those of previous studies, which found a static correlation between weight and muscle strength [ 48 , 49 ]. Muscular strength is defined as the ability of a muscle to exert maximum contractile force at once, against resistance [ 50 , 51 , 52 ].…”

Evaluation of Gross Motor Coordination and Physical Fitness in Children: Comparison between Soccer and Multisport Activities

“…Physical activity in leisure time could have mediated effects of soccer and multisport activities on physical fitness and motor coordination, hence, the lack of physical activity monitoring in leisure time is another limitation, whose influence must be controlled and evaluated in future studies. López-Gil et al recently showed that children with normal weight achieved higher results for health-related physical fitness [42], therefore the fact that we did not control the soccer and multisport activities' effects on physical fitness for weight status could be acknowledged as a limitation as well. Moreover, the lack of information on how long participants have been engaged in soccer or multisport programs is considered a limitation due to the fact that this could affect the results.…”