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

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2010.03.004Get rights and content

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.

Introduction

Health-related physical fitness refers to cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, speed-agility and body composition.1 Fitness is considered an important marker of health already in youth,1, 2 and there is increasing evidence that high levels of fitness during childhood and adolescence have a positive influence on adult health status.1

Several meta-analyses showed a decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness during recent years and stabilisation in muscular strength.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Available original reports all around the world show different trends depending on geographical region.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 To our knowledge, there is no information available regarding the secular trends in physical fitness in Spanish adolescents. Developing appropriate public health strategies requires analysing on a regular basis the evolution of fitness especially in young people.

The purpose of the present study was to analyse the secular trends in health-related physical fitness (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and speed/agility) in Spanish adolescents between 2001–2002 and 2006–2007.

Section snippets

Methods

In this study we considered data from two separate cross-sectional studies, both representative from the city of Zaragoza (Spain). Data for the first measurement point were obtained between February 2001 and March 2002 and derived from the AVENA (Alimentación y Valoración del Estado Nutricional en Adolescentes) study.15 The AVENA study is a cross-sectional study performed in 5 Spanish cities and designed to assess the nutritional status of a representative sample of adolescents from Spain. For

Results

The characteristics of the study population by measurement point (2001–2002 and 2006–2007) and gender are shown in Table I (see supplementary material). Girls had lower levels of fat free mass and physical fitness than boys (all p < 0.001).

Table 1 shows the mean of physical fitness tests by gender in both measurement points after controlling for age and pubertal status. Boys and girls measured in 2006–2007 had significantly better performance in the 20 m shuttle run test (Cohen's d  0.4 and ∼0.2,

Discussion

The results of the present study showed that Spanish adolescents in 2006–2007 had higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and speed-agility, and lower levels of muscular strength than their counterparts 5 years before. We also observed that adolescents measured in 2006–2007 were more likely to have healthy cardiorespiratory fitness levels.

Several meta-analyses described the global changes in the main health-related physical fitness components.4, 5 Contrarily to our results, data from 27

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present study on Spanish adolescents indicates that levels of both speed-agility and cardiorespiratory fitness are higher in 2006–2007, whereas muscular strength components were lower in 2006–2007.

Practical implications

  • In order to guarantee healthy levels of physical fitness, Spanish public health programs should promote physical activity among adolescents, especially focussed on muscular strength which was seen to decrease.

  • Schools may play a key role, and parents also have a great responsibility to encourage and support active living of their offspring.

Acknowledgments

The HELENA Study took place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT: 2005-007034). The AVENA study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS n° 00/0015), by grants from Panrico S.A., Madaus S.A., and Procter and Gamble S.A.

This work was also partially supported by the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme (ALPHA project, Ref: 2006120), the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS),

References (29)

  • L.A. Moreno et al.

    Harmonization of anthropometric measurements for a multicenter nutrition survey in Spanish adolescents

    Nutrition

    (2003)
  • F.B. Ortega et al.

    Low level of physical fitness in Spanish adolescents. Relevance for future cardiovascular health (AVENA study)

    Rev Esp Cardiol

    (2005)
  • J.R. Ruiz et al.

    Predictive validity of health-related fitness in youth: a systematic review

    Br J Sports Med

    (2009)
  • F.B. Ortega et al.

    Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health

    Int J Obes (Lond)

    (2008)
  • D.J. Macfarlane et al.

    Evolution and variability in fitness test performance of Asian children and adolescents

    Med Sport Sci

    (2007)
  • G.R. Tomkinson et al.

    Secular changes in pediatric aerobic fitness test performance: the global picture

    Med Sport Sci

    (2007)
  • G.R. Tomkinson

    Global changes in anaerobic fitness test performance of children and adolescents (1958–2003)

    Scand J Med Sci Sports

    (2007)
  • T. Olds et al.

    Worldwide variation in the performance of children and adolescents: an analysis of 109 studies of the 20-m shuttle run test in 37 countries

    J Sports Sci

    (2006)
  • G.R. Tomkinson et al.

    Secular changes in aerobic fitness test performance of Australasian children and adolescents

    Med Sport Sci

    (2007)
  • G.R. Tomkinson et al.

    Secular trends in the aerobic fitness test performance and body mass index of Korean children and adolescents (1968–2000)

    Int J Sports Med

    (2007)
  • J.C. Eisenmann et al.

    Secular trend in peak oxygen consumption among United States youth in the 20th century

    Am J Hum Biol

    (2002)
  • L. Matton et al.

    Secular trends in anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness, physical activity, and biological maturation in Flemish adolescents between 1969 and 2005

    Am J Hum Biol

    (2007)
  • H.M. Albon et al.

    Secular trends and distributional changes in health and fitness performance variables of 10–14 year old New Zealand children between 1991 and 2003

    Br J Sports Med

    (2008)
  • T. Jurimae et al.

    Changes in Eurofit test performance of Estonian and Lithuanian children and adolescents (1992–2002)

    Med Sport Sci

    (2007)
  • View full text