Determinant factors of physical fitness in European children

Mahmoud Zaqout (), Krishna Vyncke, Luis A. Moreno, Pilar Miguel-Etayo, Fabio Lauria, Denes Molnar, Lauren Lissner, Monica Hunsberger, Toomas Veidebaum, Michael Tornaritis, Lucia A. Reisch, Karin Bammann, Ole Sprengeler, Wolfgang Ahrens and Nathalie Michels
Additional contact information
Mahmoud Zaqout: Ghent University
Krishna Vyncke: Ghent University
Luis A. Moreno: Universidad de Zaragoza
Pilar Miguel-Etayo: Universidad de Zaragoza
Fabio Lauria: Institute of Food Sciences-CNR
Denes Molnar: University of Pécs
Lauren Lissner: University of Gothenburg
Monica Hunsberger: University of Gothenburg
Toomas Veidebaum: National Institute for Health Development
Michael Tornaritis: Research and Education Institute of Child Health
Lucia A. Reisch: Copenhagen Business School
Karin Bammann: University of Bremen
Ole Sprengeler: Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology BIPS
Wolfgang Ahrens: Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology BIPS
Nathalie Michels: Ghent University

International Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 61, issue 5, No 8, 573-582

Abstract: Abstract Objectives This study was designed to explore the determinants of physical fitness in European children aged 6–11 years, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Methods There were sufficient data on 4903 children (50.6 % girls) on measured physical fitness (cardio-respiratory, muscular strength, flexibility, balance, and speed) and possible determinants related to child characteristics, child lifestyle and parental factors. Multivariate and mixed linear regression models were conducted. Results Age, sex, children’s BMI and physical activity were independent and strong determinants of children’s fitness. Significant but small effects were found for low maternal BMI, high psychosocial well-being and fruit and vegetable intake as protective determinants. Sleep duration, breakfast intake, parental age and education and paternal BMI did not have a consistently significant effect on physical fitness. The role of determinants depended on children’s sex and the specific PF component. Longitudinal analyses especially highlighted the importance of child’s BMI as physical fitness determinant, independent of physical activity. Conclusions BMI together with physical activity, diet and psychosocial factors are modifiable targets to enhance physical fitness. This calls for policy approaches that combine these factors in a systematic way.

Keywords: Physical fitness; Children; Lifestyle; Parental determinants; Body mass index; IDEFICS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-016-0811-2

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