Background: Less than half of adolescents in the United States meet the recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and health-related fitness (HRF). Using the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey data, this study aimed to examine the associations of movement behaviors (i.e., MVPA and screen-based sedentary behaviors) with HRF (i.e., cardiovascular and muscular fitness) among 11-16- year-old peripubertal boys and girls, respectively.
Methods: A total of 470 adolescents (227 boys, 243 girls; age: 13.59±1.12 years old) from the 2012 NHANES dataset were included. The study variables included movement behaviors (i.e., MVPA and screen-based sedentary behavior), anthropometric indices (i.e., waist circumference, Body Mass Index [BMI]), and HRF (i.e., cardiovascular fitness and muscular fitness). Correlational and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for boys and girls, respectively.
Results: MVPA significantly predicted cardiovascular fitness for boys (β=0.16, P<0.05) and girls (β=0.15, P<0.05) regardless of weight status; screen-based sedentary behavior and waist circumference in girls significantly predicted muscular fitness (β=-0.13 and β=-0.42, P<0.05).
Conclusions: To increase overall HRF in peripubertal girls and boys, it is important to help them maintain healthy weight status and to promote MVPA and limit screen-based sedentary behavior, especially in adolescent girls.