Gomwe H, Seekoe E, Lyoka P, Marange C, Mafa D. Relationship between body composition and physical fitness of primary school learners from a predominantly rural province in South Africa.
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2022;
14:e1-e8. [PMID:
36226928 PMCID:
PMC9558301 DOI:
10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3517]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
There is a lack of literature regarding the relationship that exists between body composition and physical fitness amongst primary school learners in South Africa. For the sake of public health purposes, it is important to investigate how body composition relates to physical fitness amongst primary school learners in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
Aim
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between body composition and physical fitness amongst South African primary school children.
Setting
The study was conducted on a cohort of primary school learners in the Eastern Cape province, which is a predominantly rural province in South Africa.
Methods
A school-based cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst 870 primary schoolchildren aged 9–14 years. Body composition and physical fitness measurements were measured and recorded using standardised measurement scales.
Results
Of the 870 participants, 40.34% (n = 351) were boys and 59.66% (n = 519) were girls. The mean age of the participants was 11.04 ± 1.50 years. Boys had a significantly (p = 0.002) higher mean age (11.24 ±1.51 years) as compared to girls (10.91 ± 1.48 years). The results of the non-parametric Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients revealed several significant and negative relationships between physical fitness and body composition measurements, which were stronger in girls than in boys.
Conclusion
The findings call for public health authorities and other relevant policymakers to initiate the development and implementation of policies and interventions targeted at encouraging physical activity participation and healthy lifestyle amongst primary school learners in South Africa, especially amongst girls.
Contribution
The study findings supports a relatively rich literature which suggests that girls are more flexible than boys and that negative relationships between body composition measurements and physical fitness characteristics exists, which are stronger in girls than in boys.
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