Secular Trends in Physical Fitness of Peruvian Children Living at High-Altitude

Carla Santos (), Sara Pereira, Olga Vasconcelos, Go Tani, Donald Hedeker, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, José Maia and Alcibíades Bustamante
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Carla Santos: Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Sara Pereira: Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Olga Vasconcelos: Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Go Tani: Motor Behavior Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil
Donald Hedeker: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60007, USA
Peter T. Katzmarzyk: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
José Maia: Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Alcibíades Bustamante: School of Physical Education and Sports, National University of Education Enrique Guzmán y Valle, 60637 La Cantuta, Lurigancho-Chosica 15472, Peru

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: The physical fitness of children is an important marker of health, and monitoring its temporal changes provides important information for developing interventions. We aimed to: (1) describe secular trends in physical fitness across age, within each sex, in Peruvian schoolchildren; and (2) verify if these trends are also present when adjusted for changes in height and weight. We sampled 1590 children (707 in 2009; 883 in 2019), aged 6–11 years. Physical fitness was assessed with four tests from the EUROFIT battery. ANOVA and ANCOVA statistical models were used. Results showed that with increasing age, girls and boys were significantly stronger in all PF tests, except for the case of flexibility in girls. In 2019, girls were stronger (handgrip) and more flexible than in 2009; but lower values were evident in standing long jumps in both sexes. Age-by-year interactions were statistically significant for agility in both sexes, with significant differences occurring at different ages. These trends did not change when adjusted for temporal changes in height and weight. Our research provides important data for local governments to implement public policies and practices to improve physical fitness levels in children.

Keywords: secular trends; physical fitness; children; high-altitude; Peru (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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