Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged children
BackgroundWe are seeing a steady decline in children’s physical fitness. Along with overweight and obesity, low physical fitness is one of the most serious disorders in child development. One solution to these problems is additional physical activity. It was investigated whether reduced physical fit...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1578304/full |
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| author | Bartosz Aniśko Kacper Bernatowicz Małgorzata Wójcik |
| author_facet | Bartosz Aniśko Kacper Bernatowicz Małgorzata Wójcik |
| author_sort | Bartosz Aniśko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundWe are seeing a steady decline in children’s physical fitness. Along with overweight and obesity, low physical fitness is one of the most serious disorders in child development. One solution to these problems is additional physical activity. It was investigated whether reduced physical fitness is associated with an increased body mass index and whether children who participate in extra-curricular sports activities have better physical fitness.MethodsThe study involved 201 children (101 girls, 100 boys) aged 10 ± 2 (grades 1–8 of the primary school). Half of the participants reported participating in extra-curricular sports activities, while half did not participate in any sports activities. The children were assessed for body mass index, grip strength, balance, strength, speed and reaction time.ResultsSignificant differences in fitness test results were observed between active and inactive students. Significant differences were also found between students with different body mass index. The 4 months of schooling had a positive effect on most of the fitness characteristics assessed. Grip strength appeared to be a determinant of the other fitness scores.ConclusionThe hypotheses that both additional physical activity and BMI will influence children’s fitness, and that 4 months of schooling will have a positive effect on improving students’ fitness, were confirmed. Hand-grip strength was found to be a determinant of better performance in almost all other fitness tests. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-afe6a4890ebb4cd495e8b239cad1b3cf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-afe6a4890ebb4cd495e8b239cad1b3cf2025-08-20T02:28:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15783041578304Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged childrenBartosz Aniśko0Kacper Bernatowicz1Małgorzata Wójcik2Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poznań University of Physical Education, Gorzów Wielkopolski, PolandStudent Research Association Conocimiento, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poznań University of Physical Education, Gorzów Wielkopolski, PolandDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poznań University of Physical Education, Gorzów Wielkopolski, PolandBackgroundWe are seeing a steady decline in children’s physical fitness. Along with overweight and obesity, low physical fitness is one of the most serious disorders in child development. One solution to these problems is additional physical activity. It was investigated whether reduced physical fitness is associated with an increased body mass index and whether children who participate in extra-curricular sports activities have better physical fitness.MethodsThe study involved 201 children (101 girls, 100 boys) aged 10 ± 2 (grades 1–8 of the primary school). Half of the participants reported participating in extra-curricular sports activities, while half did not participate in any sports activities. The children were assessed for body mass index, grip strength, balance, strength, speed and reaction time.ResultsSignificant differences in fitness test results were observed between active and inactive students. Significant differences were also found between students with different body mass index. The 4 months of schooling had a positive effect on most of the fitness characteristics assessed. Grip strength appeared to be a determinant of the other fitness scores.ConclusionThe hypotheses that both additional physical activity and BMI will influence children’s fitness, and that 4 months of schooling will have a positive effect on improving students’ fitness, were confirmed. Hand-grip strength was found to be a determinant of better performance in almost all other fitness tests.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1578304/fullschool-aged childrenextracurricular sports activitieschildren physical fitnesschildren physical activityobesity |
| spellingShingle | Bartosz Aniśko Kacper Bernatowicz Małgorzata Wójcik Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged children Frontiers in Public Health school-aged children extracurricular sports activities children physical fitness children physical activity obesity |
| title | Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged children |
| title_full | Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged children |
| title_fullStr | Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged children |
| title_short | Effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school-aged children |
| title_sort | effects of body mass index and extracurricular sports activities on physical fitness in school aged children |
| topic | school-aged children extracurricular sports activities children physical fitness children physical activity obesity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1578304/full |
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