Weight status and physical fitness: review of the scientific literature

La relación entre obesidad y condición física es un fenómeno recientemente estudiado y cuyo origen es motivo de discusión. Esta revisión sistemática trata de realizar una síntesis de los artículos científicos publicados en los últimos años que analizan la relación entre estatus de peso y condición física. La búsqueda incluye artículos publicados entre 2.006 y 2.017, empleando para ello bases de datos electrónicas en inglés y español. Usando palabras clave como condición física, obesidad, estatus de peso, niños y adolescentes fueron incluidos artículos originales, artículos escritos en castellano o inglés, y estudios que incluían instrumentos de medida validados con anterioridad. En la primera búsqueda fueron hallados 159 artículos de los cuales un total de 16 artículos fueron seleccionados para la revisión. Los resultados obtenidos en estos artículos indican que la obesidad se asocia con una peor salud relacionada con la condición física

Relationship between weight status and muscle strength in primary school children

El estatus de peso y la fuerza muscular son importantes marcadores biológicos del estado general de salud desde la infancia. El objetivo fue analizar la relación entre estatus de peso y fuerza muscular en escolares de primaria. En este estudio descriptivo relacional participaron 512 escolares (55,5% mujeres) de 8-11 años de edad. Se midió el peso y la talla de los escolares, y se calculó el índice de masa corporal (IMC). El IMC (normo-peso, sobrepeso y obesidad) fue clasificado siguiendo criterios estándar. Se evaluaron la fuerza del tren superior y la fuerza del tren inferior mediante el test de dinamometría manual y el test de salto horizontal a pies juntos, respectivamente. El análisis de la varianza detectó diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Así, los escolares con sobrepeso presentaron un mayor nivel de fuerza del tren superior con respecto a los escolares con normo-peso (p < 0,05). Los escolares con normo-peso presentaron una mayor fuerza del tren inferior con respecto a los escolares con sobrepeso u obesidad (p < 0,01). Los resultados sugieren que el estatus de peso constituye un elemento diferenciador de la fuerza muscular en escolares de 8 a 11 años del sureste español.Weight status and muscle strength are important biomarkers of overall health from childhood. The aim was to analyze the relationship between weight status and muscular strength in primary school children. This cross-sectional study was based on a total of 512 students (55,5% women) between 8-11 years. The school children’s weight and height were measured and their body mass index (BMI) calculated. The BMI (normal-weight, overweight and obesity) were classified using standard criteria. The upper body strength and lower body strength were measured through dynamometry manual test and horizontal jump test, respectively. The analysis of variance detected statistically significant differences. The school children with overweight had higher level of upper body strength with respect to schoolchildren with normal-weight (p < 0.05). The schoolchildren with normal-weight had higher lower body strength with respect to school children with overweight or obesity (p < 0.01). The results suggest that weight status is a differentiator of muscular strength in school children from the southeast of Spain.peerReviewe

Relationship between weight status and basal metabolism in schoolchildren: The moderating role of diet quality and physical activity

There is currently a scientific trend to study the association between energy balance and its impact on health from the earliest stages of life. The aim of this study was to examine whether diet quality and physical activity moderate the association between weight status and basal metabolism in a sample of Murcian primary schoolchildren aged 8-12 years. Basal metabolism was calculated according to height, sex, and weight, with fixed coefficients following validated formulae. Physical activity was measured with the Krece-Plus test; the KIDMED questionnaire was used to quantify diet quality and nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) adjusted for sex and age. The results obtained indicate that overweight schoolchildren had a higher basal metabolism than their normal-weight peers considering their diet quality and physical activity level (p.05). These results may be of particular interest to educational and health personnel since generating strategies to improve schoolchildren’s eating habits, especially towards higher diet quality, could be vital as a method to increase basal metabolic energy expenditure and their overall health

Motor coordination and academic performance in primary school students

Objective: There is interest in studying the relationship between cognition and motor skills for decades. However, there are few studies that provide scientific evidence on the relationship between motor coordination and academic performance. Therefore, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 163 Spanish schoolchildren aged 6-9 years. Motor coordination was measured with the GRAMI-2 Test. Academic performance was obtained through the average grades of the subjects of language, mathematics, natural science, social science, English and artistic. The variables were calculated: motor coordination index and overall academic performance. The results obtained showed that schoolchildren with a better motor coordination index had higher marks in language, mathematics, natural science and English (p between <.01 and <.05). Dividing the sample according to the global academic performance, those with a good academic performance showed a better coordination performance in lateral jumps (p = .021) and a better motor coordination index (p = .008). These results indicate the existence of a positive relationship between motor coordination and academic performance, which may be this bidirectional link. This study could have practical implications to be taken into account by physical education teachers, such as, the increase in opportunities for physical activity during school and after school hours through the development of programs based on coordinative exercise, and especially oriented towards those less competent at the motor level

Condição física e bem-estar emocional em estudantes de 7 a 12 anos

El incremento de la prevalencia de conductas y trastornos que pueden afectar gravemente el bienestar emocional infantil es un hecho. Sin embargo, aunque la relación causal entre condición física y salud biológica se encuentra bien establecida, la asociación entre la condición física y algunas dimensiones de la salud psicológica es menos evidente. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar la relación entre la condición física y el bienestar emocional de escolares. Se realizó un estudio inferencial mediante análisis de la covarianza ajustada por edad en una muestra de 212 escolares (120 mujeres) de 7 a 12 años de edad, seleccionada por conveniencia, en la que se aplicó la Batería ALPHA-fitness para medir la condición física y el Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire para evaluar el bienestar emocional. Los resultados mostraron que los participantes con mayor condición física (X > P50) obtuvieron valores más positivos en problemas de conducta (p = .002), hiperactividad (p P50) obtiveram valores mais positivos em problemas de conduta (p = .002), hiperatividade (p P50) had more positive values in behavior problems (p = 0,002), hyperactivity (p < 0,001), problems with partners (p = 0 ,028), prosocial behavior (p < 0,001) and total score of difficulties (p = 0,029). Students with a lower level of total difficulties score (X < P 40 ) had a better performance in 4 x 10m (p = 0,010), manual dynamometry (p = 0,050), Course-Navette (p = 0,050) and general fitness (p = 0,040) with respect to those with medium and high levels. These results suggest a positive and bidirectional relationship between fitness and emotional well-being in primary school children. Therefore, it reinforces the need to promote programs to improve health related fitness and assess their effect on the psychological abilities of school children

Relationship between weight status and muscle strength in primary school children

El estatus de peso y la fuerza muscular son importantes marcadores biológicos del estado general de salud desde la infancia. El objetivo fue analizar la relación entre estatus de peso y fuerza muscular en escolares de primaria. En este estudio descriptivo relacional participaron 512 escolares (55,5% mujeres) de 8-11 años de edad. Se midió el peso y la talla de los escolares, y se calculó el índice de masa corporal (IMC). El IMC (normo-peso, sobrepeso y obesidad) fue clasificado siguiendo criterios estándar. Se evaluaron la fuerza del tren superior y la fuerza del tren inferior mediante el test de dinamometría manual y el test de salto horizontal a pies juntos, respectivamente. El análisis de la varianza detectó diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Así, los escolares con sobrepeso presentaron un mayor nivel de fuerza del tren superior con respecto a los escolares con normo-peso (p < 0,05). Los escolares con normo-peso presentaron una mayor fuerza del tren inferior con respecto a los escolares con sobrepeso u obesidad (p < 0,01). Los resultados sugieren que el estatus de peso constituye un elemento diferenciador de la fuerza muscular en escolares de 8 a 11 años del sureste español.Weight status and muscle strength are important biomarkers of overall health from childhood. The aim was to analyze the relationship between weight status and muscular strength in primary school children. This cross-sectional study was based on a total of 512 students (55,5% women) between 8-11 years. The school children’s weight and height were measured and their body mass index (BMI) calculated. The BMI (normal-weight, overweight and obesity) were classified using standard criteria. The upper body strength and lower body strength were measured through dynamometry manual test and horizontal jump test, respectively. The analysis of variance detected statistically significant differences. The school children with overweight had higher level of upper body strength with respect to schoolchildren with normal-weight (p < 0.05). The schoolchildren with normal-weight had higher lower body strength with respect to school children with overweight or obesity (p < 0.01). The results suggest that weight status is a differentiator of muscular strength in school children from the southeast of Spain.peerReviewe

Niveles de condición física de escolares de 8 a 11 años en relación al género y a su estatus corporal

Physical fitness is an important biomarker of overall health and quality of life since childhood. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of physical fitness in school children aged 8 to 11 years in relation to gender and their nutritional status. A cross-sectional descriptive study, 256 schoolchildren (146 females) aged 8-11. Body composition and the physical fitness were assessed using the ALPHA-Fitness Test Battery. The body mass index (normal-weight, overweight and obesity) was classified using standard criteria. The results of this study suggest that normal-weight school children have higher levels of physical fitness. In separate by gender between males and females according to nutritional status comparison, the statistical differences in the evaluation performed are similar.La condición física es un importante marcador biológico del estado general de salud y calidad de vida desde la infancia. El objetivo de la presente investigación es analizar el nivel de condición física en escolares de 8 a 11 años en relación al género y a su estatus corporal. Diseño descriptivo-transversal donde participaron 256 escolares (142 mujeres) de 8 a 11 años. Se evaluó la composición corporal y condición física mediante la Batería ALPHA-Fitness. El índice de masa corporal (normo-peso, sobrepeso y obesidad) fue categorizado usando criterios estándar. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que los escolares con normo-peso poseen niveles superiores de condición física. En la comparación separada por sexo entre varones y mujeres en función del estatus nutricional, las diferencias estadísticas en la evaluación realizada son similares

Valores de Condición Física relacionada con la Salud en adolescentes de 14 a 17 años; relación con el estado de peso

The objective of this study was to provide gender-specific percentile values of the COFISA test, and their relation to weight status. This is a descriptive study with 1,037 adolescents (508 boys and 529 girls, 15.52 ± 1.11 years old). The MANOVA test showed differences in favor of boys, with the exception of flexibility and weight status in normal weight, where girls were found with a better physical performance. With increased age, a progressive rise in the level of overall fitness was observed. In the relationship between weight status, coordination, and physical fitness by gender, normal-weight boys showed higher averages than their overweight and obese peers. It should be noted that the obesity group showed higher values in coordination. Regarding girls, the normal-weight ones obtained higher scores in manual strength and coordination than the overweight and obese group, with the overweight group showing higher scores in abdominal strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, overall physical condition, and coordination compared to the group with normal weight; and in flexibility and coordination compared to the group with obesity. The obesity group showed higher scores in abdominal strength. In conclusion, this study provides updated percentiles that allow the evaluation of health-related physical fitness in adolescents so to identify those at risk of major chronic diseases, as well as to evaluate the effects of alternative interventions in this age group.El objetivo de este estudio fue proporcionar valores percentiles de la batería COFISA según el género y, su relación con el estado de peso. Es un estudio descriptivo con 1037 adolescentes (508 varones y 529 mujeres; 15,52 ± 1,11 años). La prueba MANOVA reflejó diferencias a favor de los varones a excepción de la flexibilidad y el estado de peso en normopeso, donde las mujeres hallaron un mejor rendimiento físico. Con el avance de la edad se observa un incremento progresivo del nivel de condición física global. En la relación entre el estado de peso, coordinación y condición física según el sexo, los varones en normopeso mostraron mayores promedios que sus pares en sobrepeso y obesidad. Cabe destacar que el grupo en obesidad mostró valores más elevados en coordinación. Por su parte, las mujeres en normopeso obtuvieron registros superiores en fuerza manual y coordinación respecto al grupo en sobrepeso y obesidad, siendo el grupo en sobrepeso quien mostró registros superiores en abdominales, resistencia cardiovascular, flexibilidad, condición física global y coordinación respecto al grupo con normopeso; y en flexibilidad y coordinación en relación al grupo con obesidad, siendo el grupo con obesidad quien mostró valores más elevados en fuerza abdominal. En conclusión, este estudio proporciona percentiles actualizados que permiten evaluar la condición física relacionada con salud en adolescentes con el fin de identificar a aquellos en riesgo de enfermedades crónicas importantes, así como evaluar los efectos de intervenciones alternativas en este grupo etario

Tiempo de permanencia en diferentes rangos de intensidad en jugadores de fútbol

The aim was to analyze the percentage of time in different intensity ranges according to the game position. Non-experimental descriptive relational study, with 18 amateur soccer players, aged 20-34 years old. For 71 league games, the percentages of time in moderate and vigorous intensity levels were measured, following standard cut-off points. The results showed differences in the percentage of time when comparing the different game positions. Players who occupied the positions of midfielder, forward and wing-player are those that presented a higher percentage of time in the vigorous level in comparison with those that occupy the defensive positions; being these, central-defenders and lateral-defenders, those that showed a higher percentage of time in moderate intensity in relation to those. Game position is one of the variables that determine the type of physical effort made by the footballer in competition.El objetivo fue analizar el porcentaje de tiempo en diferentes rangos de intensidad según la posición de juego. Estudio no experimental descriptivo relacional,con 18 futbolistas amateurs, de 20-34 años de edad. Durante 71 partidos de liga, se midieron los porcentajes de tiempo en los niveles de intensidad moderada y vigorosa, siguiendo puntos de corte estándar. Los resultados mostraron diferencias en el porcentaje de tiempo al comparar las distintas posiciones de juego. Los jugadores que ocupaban las posiciones de centrocampista, delantero y extremo son los que presentaron un mayor porcentaje de tiempo en el nivel vigoroso en comparación con los que ocupan las posiciones defensivas; siendo estos, los defensas centrales y defensas laterales, los que mostraron un mayor porcentaje de tiempo en moderada intensidad en relación a aquellos. La posición de juego es una de las variables que condicionan el tipo de esfuerzo físico realizado por el futbolista en competición

Historical, Curricular and Conceptual Evolution of School Physical Education: A Spanish View

Current school Physical Education is the evolutionary result of a diversity of social, educational, economic, cultural, religious and military developments following transformations since primitive societies. Analysing its historical, curricular and conceptual evolution is essential for teachers, providing them with a historical basis for reflection of the challenges facing school Physical Education in the 21st century. From this analysis it can be seen that we find ourselves in a current reality with different objectives from the era that preceded it. Once the challenge of offering an education for all at the end of the 20th century has been overcome, it is necessary to carry out didactic approaches adjusted to the needs of the students; consequently, they will be aware of maintaining a progressive responsibility and autonomy in the care of their body; physically and psychologically stimulating their motor development and cognitive capacity. In this way, a didactic transposition of the learning learnt at school to its application in real life will be generated, and more specifically so that Spanish pupils will be at the same level as the European average in a future that looks very competitive. Faced with this scenario, the ever-decreasing demands placed on students, where it is increasingly easier to pass without effort, simply to eliminate failure, logically leads to a student body that is analogue, uncritical and often lacking in enthusiasm for learning. For this reason, Physical Education teachers must shed light on this situation by giving critical intentionality to their pedagogical approaches