Health related physical fitness parameters of secondary school children in Indian metropolitan city

Abstract

Physical fitness in adolescents is an important issue in public health as it is associated with favorable health-related outcomes.Health related fitness components include cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance,flexibility and body composition.These parameters are influenced by age,gender,body composition,socioeconomic status,physical activity level etc.Normative ranges of fitness for adolescents are reported from different countries,though there is limited information related to Indian adolescents.This study aimed to give normative ranges for health-related fitness parameters in Indian adolescents and study effect of age,gender, nutritional status,socioeconomic status and physical activity on the same. newlineThis study assessed fitness parameters:body composition(Body Mass Index,waist circumference and percent body fat),musculoskeletal parameters(muscle strength, endurance, power, flexibility)and cardio-respiratory endurance, in 625 adolescents in the age group of 12.5 to 15.5 years.Socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed using Kuppuswamy s SES Scale and type of school attended.Physical activity was measured using Physical Activity Questionnaire newlineThe study presented age and gender wise normative ranges for health-related fitness parameters including percentile values.Body composition parameters,muscle strength and power showed a significant increase with age.Girls exhibited significantly higher values of percent body fat while boys showed higher values of cardio-respiratory endurance and musculoskeletal fitness(except flexibility).Muscle strength was directly influenced by the nutritional status while cardio-respiratory and muscle endurance and power decreased with increase in body mass index.Body composition parameters,muscle endurance and strength was more in children from upper SES while muscle power and flexibility was more in children from lower SES.Cardio-respiratory endurance was not affected by the SES. Boys were observed to have a moderate while girls had low physical activity levels