Physical Fitness And Nutritional Status In School Adolescents

The increase of body fat and low levels of physical fitness, especially in adolescence, are associated with all-cause to cardiovascular mortality, in adulthood. On the other hand, from a public health perspective, improvement of nutritional status and physical fitness can be an important tool for youth well-being improvement and diseases prevention. It is noteworthy that some studies show that physical fitness is a stronger indicator of the individual health status compared to regular physical activity. Studies approaching the relationship between physical fitness and nutritional status in adolescents have been widely explored however, general ignorance of its expression in Portuguese territory still persists, namely in inner regions. The aim of this study is to describe physical fitness levels, nutritional status and analyze their association in school adolescents of Castelo Branco district, according to gender. For males and females, the overweight prevalence was 15.6% and 19.2%, respectively. Obesity prevalence was 5.1% for males and 3.8% for females. In both genders, low performances on cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness were found. Curl-ups and back-arch tests are in accordance to healthy fitness zone. Overweight and obese adolescents achieved low cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness levels. No differences were found on back-arch test between body mass status groups. Opposite correlations were found between physical fitness tests with BMI, excepting back-arch test. The prevalence ratios expose a strong trend toward the decrease of physical fitness tests in overweight and obese adolescents. Relationship between Physical Fitness and Nutritional Status in a Portuguese Sample of School Adolescents Filipe Soares Ferreira

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Last date updated on April, 2024