Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool children

The purpose of this study was to describe anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of low-income Chilean preschool children and to examine whether weight status influences childrenfs performance on fitness tests. A total of 434 preschool children (246 boys; 5.48 ± 0.31 years) participated in our study. Anthropometry (weight, height, body mass index -BMI- and waist circumference) and fitness tests (handgrip strength test, standing long jump and 20 m sprint) were assessed by trained nutritionists and physical education teachers, respectively. Significant differences in anthropometry and fitness tests between boys and girls were found. The prevalence of overweight was higher in girls; in contrast to that of obesity. Compared to normal-weight children, overweight/obese boys and girls were heavier and had greater waist circumference (P<0.001), were taller (P&#8804;0.002), and showed higher performance in handgrip strength (P&#8804;0.027) but not in standing long jump nor 20 m sprint (P&#8805;0.052). Screening physical fitness levels in overweight/obese preschool children could be an important tool in order to design an efficacy physical activity programme.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cadenas-Sánchez,Cristina, Artero,Enrique G., Concha,Fernando, Leyton,Bárbara, Kain,Juliana
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Grupo Arán 2015
Online Access:http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0212-16112015000700050
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
id oai:scielo:S0212-16112015000700050
record_format ojs
spelling oai:scielo:S0212-161120150007000502018-02-10Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool childrenCadenas-Sánchez,CristinaArtero,Enrique G.Concha,FernandoLeyton,BárbaraKain,Juliana BMI Overweight Muscular strength Speed Preschoolers The purpose of this study was to describe anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of low-income Chilean preschool children and to examine whether weight status influences childrenfs performance on fitness tests. A total of 434 preschool children (246 boys; 5.48 ± 0.31 years) participated in our study. Anthropometry (weight, height, body mass index -BMI- and waist circumference) and fitness tests (handgrip strength test, standing long jump and 20 m sprint) were assessed by trained nutritionists and physical education teachers, respectively. Significant differences in anthropometry and fitness tests between boys and girls were found. The prevalence of overweight was higher in girls; in contrast to that of obesity. Compared to normal-weight children, overweight/obese boys and girls were heavier and had greater waist circumference (P<0.001), were taller (P&#8804;0.002), and showed higher performance in handgrip strength (P&#8804;0.027) but not in standing long jump nor 20 m sprint (P&#8805;0.052). Screening physical fitness levels in overweight/obese preschool children could be an important tool in order to design an efficacy physical activity programme.Grupo AránNutrición Hospitalaria v.32 n.1 20152015-07-01journal articletext/htmlhttp://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0212-16112015000700050en
institution SCIELO
collection OJS
country España
countrycode ES
component Revista
access En linea
databasecode rev-scielo-es
tag revista
region Europa del Sur
libraryname SciELO
language English
format Digital
author Cadenas-Sánchez,Cristina
Artero,Enrique G.
Concha,Fernando
Leyton,Bárbara
Kain,Juliana
spellingShingle Cadenas-Sánchez,Cristina
Artero,Enrique G.
Concha,Fernando
Leyton,Bárbara
Kain,Juliana
Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool children
author_facet Cadenas-Sánchez,Cristina
Artero,Enrique G.
Concha,Fernando
Leyton,Bárbara
Kain,Juliana
author_sort Cadenas-Sánchez,Cristina
title Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool children
title_short Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool children
title_full Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool children
title_fullStr Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool children
title_full_unstemmed Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in Chilean preschool children
title_sort anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness level in relation to body weight status in chilean preschool children
description The purpose of this study was to describe anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of low-income Chilean preschool children and to examine whether weight status influences childrenfs performance on fitness tests. A total of 434 preschool children (246 boys; 5.48 ± 0.31 years) participated in our study. Anthropometry (weight, height, body mass index -BMI- and waist circumference) and fitness tests (handgrip strength test, standing long jump and 20 m sprint) were assessed by trained nutritionists and physical education teachers, respectively. Significant differences in anthropometry and fitness tests between boys and girls were found. The prevalence of overweight was higher in girls; in contrast to that of obesity. Compared to normal-weight children, overweight/obese boys and girls were heavier and had greater waist circumference (P<0.001), were taller (P&#8804;0.002), and showed higher performance in handgrip strength (P&#8804;0.027) but not in standing long jump nor 20 m sprint (P&#8805;0.052). Screening physical fitness levels in overweight/obese preschool children could be an important tool in order to design an efficacy physical activity programme.
publisher Grupo Arán
publishDate 2015
url http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0212-16112015000700050
work_keys_str_mv AT cadenassanchezcristina anthropometriccharacteristicsandphysicalfitnesslevelinrelationtobodyweightstatusinchileanpreschoolchildren
AT arteroenriqueg anthropometriccharacteristicsandphysicalfitnesslevelinrelationtobodyweightstatusinchileanpreschoolchildren
AT conchafernando anthropometriccharacteristicsandphysicalfitnesslevelinrelationtobodyweightstatusinchileanpreschoolchildren
AT leytonbarbara anthropometriccharacteristicsandphysicalfitnesslevelinrelationtobodyweightstatusinchileanpreschoolchildren
AT kainjuliana anthropometriccharacteristicsandphysicalfitnesslevelinrelationtobodyweightstatusinchileanpreschoolchildren
_version_ 1755936858054852608