edoc

Physical fitness and nutritional anthropometric status of children from disadvantaged communities in the Nelson Mandela Bay region

Smith, Danielle and Adams, Larissa and du Randt, Rosa and Degen, Jan and Gall, Stefanie and Joubert, Nandi and Müller, Ivan and Nqweniso, Siphesihle and Pühse, Uwe and Steinmann, Peter and Utzinger, Jürg and Walter, Cheryl and Gerber, Markus. (2020) Physical fitness and nutritional anthropometric status of children from disadvantaged communities in the Nelson Mandela Bay region. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 32. pp. 1-8.

[img] PDF - Published Version
Available under License CC BY (Attribution).

959Kb

Official URL: https://edoc.unibas.ch/78871/

Downloads: Statistics Overview

Abstract

Background: Information about the relationships between physical fitness, body composition and nutrition has increased in recent years; however, little is known about physical fitness and the coexistence of under-/overnutrition among children living in disadvantaged areas. Objectives: To determine the physical fitness status and its association with body composition, growth and selected socio-demographics in primary schoolchildren from disadvantaged communities in the Nelson Mandela Bay region. Methods: Nine hundred and sixty-five children (49% girls, M=9.5 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Height and weight were measured to establish body mass index, and height-for-age z-scores. Physical fitness was assessed using tests from the Eurofit Physical Fitness test battery (flexibility, upper/lower body muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness). Between-group differences and cross-sectional associations were examined with univariate (Chi2-tests, analyses of variance) and multivariate methods (mixed linear/logistic regression). Results: Most children had normal weight (76.7%), while 4.5% were underweight and 18.7% were overweight/obese. Underweight children and children with stunted growth (11.5%) had lower average upper body strength (p<0.001). Overweight/obese children had lower scores in weight-bearing activities (p<0.001). Children with higher socio-economic status were more likely to be overweight and obese (p<0.001). In the multivariate analyses, sex, age, body mass index, and stunting were associated with children's physical fitness. Conclusion: Fitness assessments seem to be a relevant measure of the current health status of children in disadvantaged settings. Compared to international norms, the children in this study had relatively low scores for both upper- and lower body muscular strength. Therefore, effective school-based intervention programmes should be developed to improve children's physical fitness in disadvantaged school.
Faculties and Departments:03 Faculty of Medicine
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Sport, Bewegung und Gesundheit
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Sport, Bewegung und Gesundheit > Bereich Sportwissenschaft > Sportwissenschaften (Pühse)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Former Units within Swiss TPH > Health Impact Assessment (Utzinger)
UniBasel Contributors:Müller, Iwan Martin and Joubert, Nandi and Steinmann, Peter and Utzinger, Jürg
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
ISSN:1015-5163
e-ISSN:2078-516X
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
Identification Number:
edoc DOI:
Last Modified:16 Oct 2023 14:37
Deposited On:21 May 2021 13:42

Repository Staff Only: item control page