School and Neighborhood Predictors of Physical Fitness in Elementary School Students

Multiscale Impact of Environmental and Socio-Economic Factors on Low Physical Fitness among Chinese Adolescents and Regionalized Coping Strategies

As low physical fitness in adolescents increases their risk of all-cause mortality in future adulthood as well as regional public health budgets, many scholars have studied the factors influencing physical fitness in adolescents. However, the spatial non-stationarity and scale between physical fitness and influencing factors in adolescents are often neglected. To rectify this situation, this study constructed a multi-scale geographically weighted regression model based on data from the China National Student Fitness Survey and the China Statistical Yearbook in 2018 to investigate the spatial patterns of factors influencing low physical fitness among adolescents. The results showed that the influencing factors for measuring the physical fitness of Chinese adolescents had significant spatial heterogeneity and multi-scale effects. The local R² values were relatively low in the western region of China. Consideration should be given to increasing the lifestyle and ethnic and cultural characteristics of local residents when selecting influencing factors in the future. The physical fitness of men was mainly influenced by socio-economic factors, while that of women was influenced by natural environmental factors. According to the different spatial distribution patterns of MGWR, this study suggests that each region should develop regionalized strategies to cope with the low physical fitness of adolescents, including taking advantage of the natural environment to develop physical fitness promotion projects, accelerating the upgrading of industrial structures in the north-eastern and western regions, and the need to remain cautious of rapid urbanization in the east.

US School-Based Physical Fitness Assessments and Data Dissemination

BACKGROUND

Low physical fitness (PF) levels during childhood affect healthy growth and development, and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Physical education standards exist for nearly all states in the United States, but evaluation of PF in youth has yet to be systematic, reproducible, and harmonized. The purpose of this project was to describe publicly available data of school-based PF testing (SB-PFT).

METHODS

A list of state-mandated SB-PFT programs published by SHAPE 2016 was confirmed by contacting appropriate authorities. SB-PFT data were obtained through each state's department of education.

RESULTS

Sixteen states mandate SB-PFT, with 10 states providing publicly available data; 92% to 100% of states perform the pacer/mile, curl-up, and push-up; 54.2% to 78.5% of elementary and 44% to 66.5% of high-school youth are in the "healthy fitness zone" for aerobic capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

SB-PFT provided PF data in children across the United States. The variability and inconsistency in reporting and in the values, however, raises questions about the current status of SB-PFT data and its utility in assessing PF in children. The critical nature of PF assessments is highlighted in the current COVID-19 pandemic, during which physical education has been curtailed, and emerging data demonstrate worsening of the already low levels of PF in youth.

Disparities in physical fitness of 6-11-year-old children: the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey

Background

Children’s physical fitness is an important predictor of metabolic health, physical function, and academic achievement. Although fitness is determined partially by heritable factors, it can be maintained and improved through regular physical activity. Because physical activity is known to vary by socioeconomic status, physical fitness may be expected to vary similarly. With this in mind, the purpose of this study was to examine disparities in physical fitness performance among a nationally-representative sample of 6–11 year-old children living in the United States.

Methods

We conducted secondary analysis of physical fitness data of children ages 6–11 years (n = 686) from the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS) 2012. We estimated sex-stratified weighted means of four fitness performance tests: cardiorespiratory endurance, upper-, lower-, and core-muscular strength. The weighted mean for each fitness assessment was compared by income groups (federal income to poverty ratio – FIPR) accounting for complex sampling design and adjusting for age.

Results

Income disparities in physical fitness performance were evident among girls but not among boys. Girls from lower income groups (< 130% FIPR and 130–349% FIPR groups) showed significantly lower cardiorespiratory endurance and core muscle strength compared to those from the highest income group (≥ 350% FIPR).

Conclusion

These findings highlight the need to support health-promoting physical activity among girls from disadvantaged backgrounds prior to the adolescent period.

Physical Fitness with Regular Lifestyle Is Positively Related to Academic Performance among Chinese Medical and Dental Students

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical fitness, lifestyle, and academic performance of Chinese college students and investigate the differences among medical and dental students on their lifestyle.

Methods

This study was conducted with 316 students enrolled from 2012 to 2014 at Tongji University. Scores from the college physical test were used to represent the students' physical fitness condition. Lifestyle was measured by some variables extracted from the students' behavior data provided by the university's information center. Academic performance was measured by the average score of basic courses and the average score of professional courses. Demographic information, including age, gender, nation, and family background, was also obtained. Separate multiple linear regression analysis was performed for modeling academic performance and physical fitness with a p value threshold of 0.05.

Results

A total of 212 (45.97% females) medical students and 104 (58.65% females) dental students participated in this study. Physical fitness score (medical: r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05. r = 0.34, p value threshold of 0.05.

Conclusion

Physical fitness, library usage, and the regularity of lifestyle are significant contributors to academic performance among Chinese medical and dental students. Moreover, medical students are shown to have less rest time compared to dental students.

Failure to meet aerobic fitness standards among urban elementary students

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of aerobic fitness with the elementary school environment and student characteristics among 4th and 5th grade children attending urban public schools in St. Louis, MO, USA. This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2012–2015 and included 2381 children (mean age 10.5 y) who completed the FITNESSGRAM® 20-m Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run. Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) was defined according to FITNESSGRAM® aerobic capacity criteria. Other student-level variables included age, race, National School Lunch Program eligibility, BMI z-score, weight status, and daily pedometer steps. School environment variables included playground features and playground safety, physical education and recess practices, and school census tract data on vacant houses and median household income. Bivariate analyses with sex stratification were used to identify student-level and school-level predictors of failure to achieve the aerobic HFZ; predictors were then included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Failure to meet the aerobic HFZ was observed among 33% of boys and 57% of girls. School environment was not predictive, but higher age and fewer daily steps were: each additional year of age was associated with 41% higher odds of failing to meet the aerobic HFZ among boys and 100% higher odds among girls. Conversely, each additional 1000 daily steps was associated with 15% (boys) and 13% (girls) lower odds of failure. Obesity posed a 60% higher risk of failure to meet HFZ among girls. These results highlight the importance of childhood physical activity opportunities, especially for girls residing in low-resource areas.

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Aerobic fitness was assessed with the FTINESSGRAM 20-m run in urban students.

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Many urban elementary students failed to meet Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) criteria.

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Girls with obesity (vs. healthy weight) were 60% more likely to fail to meet HFZ.

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School environment was not associated with failure to meet aerobic criteria.

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Schools should provide frequent high-quality physical education and activities.