Health-related physical fitness, physical activity and its correlates among school going adolescents in hilly state in north India: a cross sectional survey

Abstract

Introduction: Health-related physical fitness, which includes body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, flexibility, power, and strength are associated with risks of chronic diseases and promote good health and wellness. There have been reports of increasing levels of physical inactivity among children and adolescents, leading to increasing rates of obesity and decreased physical fitness. The present study was conducted among school going adolescents to estimate the levels and correlates of PF for timely intervention.

Methodology: School based cross-sectional study was done among students of class 8-11th in Government schools of Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. Multistage stratified random sampling was applied for recruitment of study participants. We recruited a final sample size of 634 students. Validated questionnaires and standard methods for assessment of physical fitness, physical activity levels and other variables such as waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI and hemoglobin estimation were done.

Results: Average and above average cardiorespiratory fitness score as per Harvard step test among boys (54.3%) was significantly higher as compared to girls (21.3%) (χ2 = 88.93, p < 0.001). There was a significant association between gender and dominant handgrip strength (χ2 = 8.02, p = 0.01) as well as between gender and Shoulder stretch test (SST) of dominant (χ2 = 17.5, p < 0.05) as well as nondominant arm (χ2 = 13.5, p < 0.05). Sit and reach test results also showed a significant association with gender (χ2 = 27.17, p < 0.001). Gender, hemoglobin level, BMI and PAL scores significantly predicted cardiorespiratory fitness scores (R2 = 0.188, F value of the model = 37.69, p =< 0.001)).

Conclusion: Physical fitness of school going adolescents in Garhwal division of Uttarakhand was better than other parts of India, with significant gender differences. Physical activity levels (PAL) were poor and are also a significant predictor of physical fitness. More emphasis needs to be paid on the health and fitness of girl students. School based policies to increase PAL among students through innovation and rewards may go a long way in improving the long-term health of the students.

Keywords: Harvard step test; Health-related physical fitness; Physical activity levels; Physical fitness; School going adolescents; Shoulder stretch test; Sit and reach test.