Clusters of negative health-related physical fitness indicators and associated factors in adolescents

• Main Authors: Tiago Rodrigues de Lima, Diego Augusto Santos Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2017-11-01
• Series: Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano
• Subjects: epidemiologia; estudos transversais; prevenção e controle; saúde do adolescente
• Online Access: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/rbcdh/article/view/49386
• ISSN: 1415-8426; 1980-0037

Inadequate levels in health-related physical fitness components are associated with early cardiovascular mortality in adult life. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between clusters of negative physical fitness indicators with sociodemographic and lifestyle variables in adolescents. The survey was conducted with 866 students (14-19 years) from public schools of São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the modified Canadian aerobic fitness test; muscle strength was measured by handgrip dynamometer; flexibility was assessed by the sit-and-reach test; body fat was measured by the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables were verified by questionnaire. The simultaneity of behaviors was evaluated by the ratio between observed and expected prevalence of inadequate physical fitness levels. The combination of negative physical fitness indicators was analyzed through multinomial logistic regression. The prevalence observed for the simultaneity of four negative physical fitness indicators was 30% higher than expected. Female adolescents were more susceptible to the presence of two, three and four negative physical fitness indicators. Adolescents who presented risk behavior in relation to screen time were more likely to present one, three and four negative physical fitness indicators. Female gender and risk behavior in relation to screen time were factors associated with the simultaneity of negative physical fitness indicators.