Influence of Sport Practice and Body Weight on Physical Fitness in Schoolchildren Living in the Campania Region

Annamaria Mancini, Domenico Martone, Daniela Vitucci, Adriano Capobianco, Andreina Alfieri, Pasqualina Buono and Stefania Orrù
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Annamaria Mancini: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Domenico Martone: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Daniela Vitucci: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Adriano Capobianco: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Andreina Alfieri: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Pasqualina Buono: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy
Stefania Orrù: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, 80133 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Physical fitness (PF) levels correlate with health hallmarks at all ages. In this study, w aimed to determine the PF level of schoolchildren from the Campania Region (Italy) through health-related PF (HRPF) components, taking into account body weight and sport practice (SP). Methods: PF level was determined in 565 schoolchildren aged 10–13 (11.7 ± 1.0 yrs; m: 353, f: 212) using some of the Eurofit battery tests. Results: 77% children practiced sport, boys more than girls (86% vs. 63%, respectively; p < 0.05). Boys performed better than girls ( p < 0.05) in the Plate Tapping, Standing Broad Jump, Bent-Arm Hang, and 10 × 5 m Shuttle Run tests; girls performed better in the Sit-and-Reach Test ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overweight/obese status negatively affects the muscular strength of lower limbs, even if it progressively improves during growth. SP was revealed to be a determinant in performance only in some PF tests, likely due to the heterogeneous training level among boys and girls who practice sport.

Keywords: Eurofit battery tests; sport practice; overweight/obesity; health-related physical fitness; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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