Impaired Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscle Strength in Children with Normal-Weight Obesity

Martin Musálek, Cain C. T. Clark, Jakub Kokštejn, Šarka Vokounova, Jan Hnízdil and Filip Mess
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Martin Musálek: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, José Martího 31 Praha 6 Veleslavín, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic
Cain C. T. Clark: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Richard Crossman Building, Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 5RW, UK
Jakub Kokštejn: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, José Martího 31 Praha 6 Veleslavín, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic
Šarka Vokounova: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, José Martího 31 Praha 6 Veleslavín, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic
Jan Hnízdil: Pedagogical Faculty, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Pasteurova Street 1, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Filip Mess: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62, 80992 Munich, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: Despite the health-related implications of normal-weight obesity in children, very little research has explored the fundamental associations between this status and important long-term health parameters. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the physical fitness of children with normal-weight obesity, in comparison to normal-weight non obese and overweight and obese counterparts. A total of 328 middle-school-aged children (9.8 ± 0.5 y) took part in this study ( n = 44 normal-weight obese; n = 237; normal-weight non obese; n = 47 overweight and obese). Height, weight, and body-fatness were measured. Four physical fitness tests were conducted: (1) Multistage fitness test; (2) shuttle run 4 × 10 m; (3) sit-ups for 60 s; (4) the broad jump. Welch’s analysis of variance (ANOVA), stratified by sex, with post-hoc testing where necessary, was performed. Children with normal-weight obesity had significantly ( p < 0.01) lower cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness than normal-weight non obese peers. In addition, normal-weight obese and overweight and obese boys had comparable deficits in strength and explosiveness of lower limbs, speed coordination, and endurance, compared to normal-weight non obese counterparts. Normal-weight obese children appear to have similar deficits in PF as their overweight and obese peers, compared to normal-weight non obese counterparts, whilst boys had larger deficits than girls.

Keywords: normal-weight obesity; cardiorespiratory; children; muscle strength; physical fitness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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