Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyze secular trends in anthropometrics and physical fitness of Portuguese children.

Material And Methods: A group of 1819 students (881 boys and 938 girls) between 10 and 11 years old was assessed in their 5th and 6th scholar grade throughout a 20 years' time-frame. ANCOVA models were used to analyze variations in anthropometrics (height, weight and body mass index) and physical fitness (sit and reach, curl-up, horizontal jump and sprint time) across four quinquennials (1993 - 1998; 1998 - 2003; 2003 - 2008; 2008 - 2013).

Results: Secular trends showed the presence of heavier boys and girls with higher body mass index in the 5th and 6th grade throughout the last 20 years. There was also a presence of taller girls but just until the 3rd quinquennial. Both boys and girls were able to perform better on the core strength test and sprint time but become less flexible over the years. Mean jumping performance remained unchanged for both genders.

Discussion: The present study provides novel data on anthropometrics and physical fitness trends over the last two decades in young Portuguese children, consistent with the results reported in other developed countries.

Conclusion: Evidence for the start of a positive secular trend in body mass index and in some physical fitness components over the last two decades among the Portuguese youth.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.20344/amp.7712DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

physical fitness
20
secular trends
12
anthropometrics physical
12
body mass
12
trends anthropometrics
8
mass physical
8
sprint time
8
boys girls
8
physical
5
fitness
5

Similar Publications

Objectives: To examine the association between muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in patients diagnosed with cancer, and whether these associations are affected by type and/or stage of cancer.

Method: A systematic review with meta-analysis was carried out. Five bibliographic databases were searched to August 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will mark the debut of squash, a high-intensity sport characterized by repeated efforts, posing potential thermoregulatory challenges. The demanding nature of squash results in substantial metabolic heat production, with consequential heat strain exacerbated by the indoor environment of squash courts, where low to moderate evaporative potential limits effective cooling. Players often experience increased body-heat storage and thermal strain, with muscle cramps (an early warning sign of more severe heat-related illnesses) commonly observed during tournaments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Toxicity of rare earth elements europium and samarium on zebrafish development and locomotor performance.

J Hazard Mater

January 2025

Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410012, China. Electronic address:

Rare earth elements are integral to modern technology, but their increasing environmental distribution due to anthropogenic activities poses potential health risks to humans. This study utilized zebrafish as a model to assess developmental and locomotor performance effects of europium and samarium. Exposure to Eu or Sm induced a reduction in heart rate, growth inhibition, and morphological deformities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal disease are among the leading causes of disability in middle-aged and older people. Health and lifestyle factors in youth have known associations with cardiovascular or respiratory disease in adulthood, but largely unknown associations with musculoskeletal disease.

Methods And Findings: We included approximately 40,000 18-year-old Swedish males, who completed their conscription examination in 1969 to 1970, followed up until age of 60 years.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tailoring Exercise Prescription for Effective Diabetes Glucose Management.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

January 2025

Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.

Context: Physical activity, exercise, or both are a staple of lifestyle management approaches both for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). While the current literature supports both physical activity and exercise for improving glycemic control, reducing cardiovascular risk, maintaining proper weight, and enhancing overall well-being, the optimal prescription regimen remains debated.

Evidence Acquisition: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases for relevant studies on exercise, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control in people with T1DM and T2DM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!