Health-related fitness and coronary heart disease risk factors in youth
Date
1995
Authors
Thompson, Adele
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between performance on a health-related fitness test battery and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in youth. 37 female and 58 male volunteer subjects in Grades 4-7 (classified as either pre- or mid-pubescent) from two public elementary schools (mean height = 149.0 cm and weight = 40 kg) completed the Manitoba Schools Fitness criterion-referenced test battery (1600m run/walk, push ups, modified sit ups, sit and reach, and 4 skinfolds), and were assessed for resting blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), level of physical activity, and smoking status. Mean values (SD) for the fitness test items were 9:00 (1:47) min for the 1600m run/walk, 12 (8) push ups, 35 (9) sit ups, 29.0 (9.0) cm for the sit and reach, and 38.4 (19.9) mm for the sum of 4 skinfolds. Passing rates on the fitness tests ranged from 35% for push ups to 68% for the sum of two skin folds. and trends were seen between gender and maturation groups. More males and early-pubescent subjects passed the push ups test, females had a higher passing rate on the sit and reach test, and more early-pubescent subjects passed the modified sit ups test. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 98 (12) and 60 (12) mmHg, respectively, for all subjects combined. The mean physical activity score (PAS) was 35.8 (15.9) out of a possible JOO points. There were no gender differences for these variables, but the early-pubescent subjects had significantly lower SBP than mid-pubescent subjects. No subjects repo1ted smoking.
Canonical correlation indicated that there was a moderate relationship between the items in the Manitoba Schools Fitness test battery and the CHO health risk variables. The fir t three canonical correlations were statistically significant, with moderate values of .66, .64, and .40. Overall, the highest correlations between the two sets of variables were for the sum of 4 skinfolds and push ups from the fitness test set and DBP and BMI in the health set.
Discriminant analyses were performed to investigate if the health variables, as a group. could predict pass or fail status on each of the fitness test items. Chi-square values indicated that the set of health variables was a significant discriminator for the sum of 2 skin folds. the sum of 4 skinfolds, push ups and the 1600m run/walk tests. Further, it was found that BMJ had the highest individual loading with the discriminant function for all tests.
MANOVA was performed to assess the effects of gender, maturation, and their interaction on the sets of fitness variables and health variables. A significant gender effect was found for fitness and health variables combined and each set separately. A significant maturation effect was found for all variables combined, and for the set of health variables only. A significant interaction effect was found for all variables combined and for the set of fitness variables separately. Individual variables that appeared to have been significantly influenced by gender were the sum of 4 skinfolds, push ups, the sit and reach, and WHR. Females had higher sum of 4 skinfolds and sit and reach scores. and males had higher WHR scores and completed more push ups. In conclusion, result indicated that there was a moderate relationship between the two sets of variables, that the set of health variables could discriminate pass or fail status on the two skinfold tests, push ups, and the 1600m run/walk, and