Correlations between Physical Fitness and Body Composition among Boys Aged 14–18—Conclusions of a Case Study to Reverse the Worsening Secular Trend in Fitness among Urban Youth Due to Sedentary Lifestyles

Anetta Müller, Zsuzsa Nagy, Sándor Kovács, Szilvia Szőke, Elena Bendíková, Gergely Ráthonyi, Kinga Ráthonyi-Ódor, György Szabados, Zoltán Gabnai and Éva Bácsné Bába
Additional contact information
Anetta Müller: Department of Sports Economics and Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Zsuzsa Nagy: Doctoral School of Humanities, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Sándor Kovács: Department of Research Methodology and Statistics, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Szilvia Szőke: Department of Research Methodology and Statistics, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Elena Bendíková: Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education, Catholic University in Ružomberok, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia
Gergely Ráthonyi: Department of Sports Economics and Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Kinga Ráthonyi-Ódor: Department of Sports Economics and Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
György Szabados: Department of Sports Economics and Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Zoltán Gabnai: Department of Business Economics and Business Development, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Éva Bácsné Bába: Department of Sports Economics and Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: A secular trend can be observed throughout the world with an increase in childhood obesity and a decrease in fitness. The research aimed to examine the results of tests measuring the conditional abilities of young boys aged 14–18 in fitness tests and their correlations with body composition indicators. That was supported by research that has been prepared in Hungary so far. This research focuses on the results of fitness tests conducted on 14- to 18-year-old boys, presented along with body composition data. The authors sought to describe the development of the fitness profiles of males at a Budapest secondary school participating in the research, based on the results of the Hungarian National Student Fitness Test (NETFIT ® ), and also how their physical characteristics affect the results of NETFIT ® tests in the sample measured. A total of 735 male high school students at a Budapest secondary school (14–18 years old) (mean ± SD, 16.05 ± 1.18 years) participated in the survey. The data were collected in the 2018/2019 academic year, and it was compared with the national data. The correlation between the performance indicators of the NETFIT ® tests and the physical characteristic indicators was analyzed using the two-block Partial Least Squares method. In the resulting groups, Kruskal–Wallis variance analysis was performed to investigate the differences in performance. In contrast, pairs of group differences were tested with the Mann–Whitney test. Boys with a short physique were at some advantage in trunk-lifts and push-ups, compared to taller boys. It was also obvious that being overweight is a hindrance regarding the PACER test or the standing broad jump. The handgrip in the left and right hand was mostly of similar strength or weakness. Tall-heavy children performed better in this test. The grip strength of tall-thin students was also strong, but not as strong as in the tall-heavy group. Reducing the percentage of body fat (PBF) and creating the optimal BMI index is important for the younger age group, as our results have clearly demonstrated that overweight is a hindrance in the PACER, VO 2 max, standing broad jump, back-saver sit-and-reach, and push-up tests.

Keywords: health status indicators; fitness profile; exercise test; two-block PLS; daily P.E. (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 (2)

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