Deng Ao1, Fei Wu1, Chun-Feng Yun1, Xiao-Ying Zheng2. 1. Institute of Population Research/WHO Collaborating Center on Reproductive Health and Population Science, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China. 2. Institute of Population Research/WHO Collaborating Center on Reproductive Health and Population Science, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China. Electronic address: xzheng@pku.edu.cn.
Abstract
AIMS: To investigate the 29-year (1985-2014) trends in body dimensions and physical fitness test performances among 12-year-old Chinese children living in urban and rural areas. METHODS: The data were from the findings of seven cross-sectional surveys from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health. In the seven surveys, there were 34,238; 11,664; 17,485; 18,057; 19,254; 17,962; and 17,906 children, respectively. Anthropometric measurements and physical fitness performances of 12-year-old Chinese children living in rural and urban areas were analyzed. Polynomial models were used to analyze trends in test performances. Analysis of variance was used to assess the urban-rural differentials. RESULTS: The height and weight of both urban and rural children substantially increased from 1985 to 2014. Urban children were taller and heavier than rural children. A slight narrowing of the urban-rural differential in height was observed. The disparity in weight increased from 1985 to 2000 and decreased thereafter. Urban children performed better in most of the physical fitness tests examined, such as standing long jump, 50-m run, and sit-ups. The urban-rural disparity decreased from 1985 to 2014 in 50-m run, standing long jump, and sit-up score; the largest difference in 10 × 50 m run and pull-up score was observed in 2000 and 2005, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was a general decline in physical fitness in both urban and rural children after 2000. Urgent, targeted actions need to be taken by public health policy officials and parents to maintain or improve the physical fitness of children.
AIMS: To investigate the 29-year (1985-2014) trends in body dimensions and physical fitness test performances among 12-year-old Chinese children living in urban and rural areas. METHODS: The data were from the findings of seven cross-sectional surveys from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health. In the seven surveys, there were 34,238; 11,664; 17,485; 18,057; 19,254; 17,962; and 17,906 children, respectively. Anthropometric measurements and physical fitness performances of 12-year-old Chinese children living in rural and urban areas were analyzed. Polynomial models were used to analyze trends in test performances. Analysis of variance was used to assess the urban-rural differentials. RESULTS: The height and weight of both urban and rural children substantially increased from 1985 to 2014. Urban children were taller and heavier than rural children. A slight narrowing of the urban-rural differential in height was observed. The disparity in weight increased from 1985 to 2000 and decreased thereafter. Urban children performed better in most of the physical fitness tests examined, such as standing long jump, 50-m run, and sit-ups. The urban-rural disparity decreased from 1985 to 2014 in 50-m run, standing long jump, and sit-up score; the largest difference in 10 × 50 m run and pull-up score was observed in 2000 and 2005, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was a general decline in physical fitness in both urban and rural children after 2000. Urgent, targeted actions need to be taken by public health policy officials and parents to maintain or improve the physical fitness of children.
Authors: Bojan Masanovic; Jovan Gardasevic; Adilson Marques; Miguel Peralta; Yolanda Demetriou; David Joseph Sturm; Stevo Popovic Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2020-12-11 Impact factor: 3.418
Authors: Tanja Eberhardt; Claudia Niessner; Doris Oriwol; Lydia Buchal; Annette Worth; Klaus Bös Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-08-05 Impact factor: 3.390