Secular trends in health-related physical fitness in Spanish adolescents: The AVENA and HELENA Studies

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport 2010-11, Vol.13 (6), p.584-588
• Main Authors: Moliner-Urdiales, D, Ruiz, J.R, Ortega, F.B, Jiménez-Pavón, D, Vicente-Rodriguez, G, Rey-López, J.P, Martínez-Gómez, D, Casajús, J.A, Mesana, M.I, Marcos, A, Noriega-Borge, M.J, Sjöström, M, Castillo, M.J, Moreno, L.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; Analysis of Variance; Body Composition; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; Child; Confidence intervals; Exercise Test - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health care; Human subjects; Humans; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Muscle Strength; Muscular strength; Nutrition research; Odds Ratio; Older people; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Public health; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; Spain; Sports Medicine; Standard deviation; Young adults; Youth
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2010.03.004

Abstract We analysed the secular trends in health-related physical fitness in Spanish adolescents between 2001–2002 and 2006–2007. Two representative population studies were conducted 5 years apart in adolescents (12.5–17.5 years) from Zaragoza (Spain) that participated in the AVENA study in 2001–2002 and in the HELENA-CSS study in 2006–2007. Both studies used the same tests to assess physical fitness: the handgrip strength, bent arm hang, standing broad jump, 4 × 10 m shuttle run and 20 m shuttle run tests. Performance in 4 × 10 m shuttle run and 20 m shuttle run tests was higher in 2006–2007 (Cohen's d ranging from 0.2 to 0.4, p < 0.05), whereas performance in handgrip strength and standing broad jump tests was lower in 2006–2007 (Cohen's d ranging from 0.3 to 1.1, p < 0.001). Adjustment for age, pubertal status, fat mass, fat free mass and parental education did not alter the results. The odds ratio (OR) of meeting the FITNESSGRAM Standards for healthy cardiorespiratory fitness was higher in 2006–2007 in both boys (OR, 95% CI: 2.123, 1.157–3.908) and girls (OR, 95% CI: 2.420, 1.377–4.255). The results indicate that levels of both speed/agility and cardiorespiratory fitness were higher in 2006–2007 than in 2001–2002, whereas muscular strength components were lower in 2006–2007.