Justin J Lang1,2, Richard Larouche2, Mark S Tremblay3. 1. Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 2. Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 3. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study explored the relationship between physical fitness and indicators of physical and psychosocial health in a nationally representative sample of Canadian children and youth aged 6-17 years. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of Canadian Health Measures Survey (Cycles 1 and 2; 2007-2011) data. The physical fitness measures included cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test), strength (handgrip strength), flexibility (sit-and-reach), and muscular endurance (partial curl-ups). The physical health indicators included directly measured biomarkers (total and HDL [high-density lipoprotein] cholesterol, C-reactive protein, glucose, and HbA1c [glycohaemoglobin]) and measures of adiposity, resting heart rate, and blood pressure. Psychosocial health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the association between variables, stratified by age groups and sex. RESULTS: 3,800 (48.9% female) children and youth were retained for this analysis. CRF displayed significant favourable associations with most physical health indicators in male and female participants. There were less significant favourable associations with flexibility and muscular endurance compared with CRF across age and sex groups. Strength was associated with higher adiposity in males and females, and lower heart rate in male children (β = -1.9; 95% CI: -2.9, -1.0) and female youth (β = -2.0; 95% CI: -2.7, -1.2). There were few significant favourable associations between measures of physical fitness and psychosocial health in this sample of children and youth. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that physical fitness, and especially CRF, is a significant indicator of physical health among Canadian children and youth aged 6-17 years.
INTRODUCTION: This study explored the relationship between physical fitness and indicators of physical and psychosocial health in a nationally representative sample of Canadian children and youth aged 6-17 years. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of Canadian Health Measures Survey (Cycles 1 and 2; 2007-2011) data. The physical fitness measures included cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test), strength (handgrip strength), flexibility (sit-and-reach), and muscular endurance (partial curl-ups). The physical health indicators included directly measured biomarkers (total and HDL [high-density lipoprotein] cholesterol, C-reactive protein, glucose, and HbA1c [glycohaemoglobin]) and measures of adiposity, resting heart rate, and blood pressure. Psychosocial health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the association between variables, stratified by age groups and sex. RESULTS: 3,800 (48.9% female) children and youth were retained for this analysis. CRF displayed significant favourable associations with most physical health indicators in male and female participants. There were less significant favourable associations with flexibility and muscular endurance compared with CRF across age and sex groups. Strength was associated with higher adiposity in males and females, and lower heart rate in male children (β = -1.9; 95% CI: -2.9, -1.0) and female youth (β = -2.0; 95% CI: -2.7, -1.2). There were few significant favourable associations between measures of physical fitness and psychosocial health in this sample of children and youth. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that physical fitness, and especially CRF, is a significant indicator of physical health among Canadian children and youth aged 6-17 years.
Authors: Scott Rollo; Brooklyn J Fraser; Nick Seguin; Margaret Sampson; Justin J Lang; Grant R Tomkinson; Mark S Tremblay Journal: Sports Med Date: 2021-09-01 Impact factor: 11.928
Authors: Tiago Rodrigues de Lima; Priscila Custódio Martins; Yara Maria Franco Moreno; Jean-Philippe Chaput; Mark Stephen Tremblay; Xuemei Sui; Diego Augusto Santos Silva Journal: Sports Med Date: 2022-01-12 Impact factor: 11.928
Authors: Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez; Alejandra Mena-Molina; Lucia V Torres-Lopez; Jairo H Migueles; María Rodriguez-Ayllon; David R Lubans; Francisco B Ortega Journal: Sports Med Date: 2021-07-27 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: Catherine Wheatley; Thomas Wassenaar; Piergiorgio Salvan; Nick Beale; Thomas Nichols; Helen Dawes; Heidi Johansen-Berg Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2020-10-02