Correlates of health-related physical fitness levels of Portuguese children

AbstractObjective. To investigate Portuguese children's health related physical fitness (HRPF) pass rates, and to analyze the associations between HRPF and sex, age, physical activity, overweight/obesity and gross motor coordination. Methods. Weight, height, gross motor coordination, physical activity levels and health-related physical fitness were evaluated in 3 699 Azorean children in Portugal, aged 6 to 10 years. Overweight and obesity were classified according to criteria proposed by Cole et al. in the year 2000. Logistic regressions were used to verify the associations. Results. In the total sample, 17.9% to 42.6% of girls and 39.5 to 49.6% of boys in the different age groups passed all tests. Boys have higher pass rates in push-ups compared with girls. With increasing age there is a lower probability of being fit. Moderately active children are more likely to be fit in curl-up and push-up and very-active children are more likely to be fit in curl-up, push-up and trunk-lift than less-active children....