Physical Fitness and Self-Rated Health in Children and Adolescents: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study

Carmen Padilla-Moledo, Jorge DR Fernández-Santos, Rocio Izquierdo-Gómez, Irene Esteban-Cornejo, Paula Rio-Cozar, Ana Carbonell-Baeza and Jose Castro-Piñero
Additional contact information
Carmen Padilla-Moledo: GALENO research group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 115010 Puerto Real, Spain
Jorge DR Fernández-Santos: GALENO research group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 115010 Puerto Real, Spain
Rocio Izquierdo-Gómez: GALENO research group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 115010 Puerto Real, Spain
Irene Esteban-Cornejo: PROFITH “PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity” research group, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Paula Rio-Cozar: GALENO research group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 115010 Puerto Real, Spain
Ana Carbonell-Baeza: GALENO research group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 115010 Puerto Real, Spain
Jose Castro-Piñero: GALENO research group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 115010 Puerto Real, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Self-rated health (SRH) is an independent determinant for all-cause mortality. We aimed to examine the independent and combined associations of components of physical fitness with SRH at baseline (cross-sectional) and two years later (longitudinal) in children and adolescents. Spanish youth (N = 1378) aged 8 to 17.9 years participated at baseline. The dropout rate at 2-year follow-up was 19.5% ( n = 270). Participants were categorized as either children (8 to 11.9 years age) or adolescents (12 to 17.9 years age). The ALPHA health- related fitness test battery for youth was used to assess physical fitness, and SRH was measured by a single-item question. Cumulative link, ANOVA and ANCOVA models were fitted to analyze the data. Cardiorespiratory fitness, relative upper body isometric muscular strength, muscular strength score, and global physical fitness were positively associated with SRH in children (OR, 1.048; 95% CI, 1.020–1.076; OR, 18.921; 95% CI, 3.47–104.355; OR, 1.213; 95% CI, 1.117–1.319, and OR, 1.170; 95% CI, 1.081–1.266, respectively; all p < 0.001) and adolescents (OR, 1.057; 95% CI, 1.037–1.076; OR, 5.707; 95% CI, 1.122–29.205; OR, 1.169; 95% CI, 1.070–1.278, and OR, 1.154 95% CI, 1.100–1.210, respectively; all p < 0.001); and motor fitness was positively associated with SRH only in adolescents at baseline (OR, 1.192; 95% CI, 1.066–1.309; p < 0.01). Cardiorespiratory fitness and global physical fitness were positively associated with SRH in children two years later (OR, 1.056; 95% CI, 1.023–1.091; p < 0.001; and OR, 1.082; 95% CI, 1.031–1.136; p < 0.01; respectively). Only cardiorespiratory fitness was independently associated with SRH in children and adolescents at baseline (OR, 1.059; 95% CI, 1.029–1.090; and OR, 1.073; 95% CI, 1.050–1.097, respectively; both p < 0.001) and two years later (OR, 1.075; 95% CI, 1.040–1.112; p < 0.001; and OR, 1.043; 95% CI, 1.014–1.074; p < 0.01, respectively). A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness at baseline or maintaining high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness from the baseline to 2-year follow-up were associated with a higher level of SRH at 2-year follow-up in children ( p < 0.01) and adolescents ( p < 0.05). These findings emphasize the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness as strong predictor of present and future SRH in youth. Intervention programs to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness level of the youth population are urgently needed for present and future youth’s health.

Keywords: cardiorespiratory fitness; muscular strength; motor fitness; physical fitness; self-rated health; children and adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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