title: Physical fitness and associations with anthropometric measurements in 7 to 15-year-old school children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze associations between health-related physical fitness and the anthropometric and demographic indicators of children at three elementary schools in Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample for this cross-sectional study was 988 elementary school students, recruited from the second to ninth grades (an age range of 7 to 15 years). The children underwent anthropometric assessment (weight, height, waist circumference and tricipital and subscapular skin folds) and were tested for health-related physical fitness (flexibility: sit and reach test; abdominal strength/stamina: 1-minute abdominal test; and aerobic stamina: 9-minute running/walking test). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics plus Student's t test, the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and logistic regression with a significance level of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physical fitness levels observed were significantly influenced by age (all levels), sex (abdominal strength/stamina), obesity (all levels), body adiposity (flexibility, abdominal strength/stamina) and abdominal adiposity (abdominal strength/stamina and aerobic stamina). Females were more prone to be unfit in abdominal strength/stamina. Both obesity and excessive abdominal adiposity predisposed children to be unfit in abdominal strength/stamina and aerobic stamina. Excess body adiposity increased the likelihood of poor trunk flexibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unhealthy physical fitness levels were related to female sex, obesity and excessive abdominal adiposity. Implementing programs designed to effect lifestyle changes to achieve physical fitness and healthy nutrition in these schools would meet the objectives of promoting healthy body weight and increased physical fitness among these schoolchildren.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Metabolismo em Exercício Físico e Nutrição, Departamento de Saúde Pública, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. viviandreasi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Andreasi
authors.forename: Edilaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Michelin
authors.forename: Ana Elisa M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Roberto Carlos
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Burini
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*