title: Sex-specific associations of moderate and vigorous physical activity with physical fitness in adolescents.
abstract: The present study examined the sex-specific associations of moderate and vigorous physical activity (VPA) with physical fitness in 300 Japanese adolescents aged 12-14 years. Participants were asked to wear an accelerometer to evaluate physical activity (PA) levels of various intensities (i.e. moderate PA (MPA), 3-5.9 metabolic equivalents (METs); VPA, ≥6 METs; moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), ≥3 METs). Eight fitness items were assessed (grip strength, bent-leg sit-up, sit-and-reach, side step, 50 m sprint, standing long jump, handball throw, and distance running) as part of the Japanese standardised fitness test. A fitness composite score was calculated using Japanese fitness norms, and participants were categorised according to their score from category A (most fit) to category E (least fit), with participants in categories D and E defined as having low fitness. It was found that for boys, accumulating more than 80.7 min/day of MVPA may reduce the probability of low fitness (odds ratio (ORs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 0.17 [0.06-0.47], p = .001). For girls, accumulating only 8.4 min of VPA could reduce the likelihood of exhibiting low fitness (ORs [95% CI] = 0.23 [0.05-0.89], p = .032). These results reveal that there are sex-specific differences in the relationship between PA and physical fitness in adolescents, suggesting that sex-specific PA recommendation may be needed to improve physical fitness in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: a The United Graduate School of Education, Division of Health and Sport Education , Tokyo Gakugei University , 4-1-1 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei , Tokyo 184-8501 , Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kidokoro
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Education and Human Science , Yokohama National University , 79-1 Tokiwadai, Hotogaya, Yokohama , Kanagawa 240-8501 , Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: c Koganei Junior High School , Tokyo Gakugei University , 4-1-1 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei , Tokyo 184-8501 , Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naoi
authors.affiliation: c Koganei Junior High School , Tokyo Gakugei University , 4-1-1 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei , Tokyo 184-8501 , Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.affiliation: d Department of Health and Sports Sciences , Tokyo Gakugei University , 4-1-1 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei , Tokyo 184-8501 , Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanaoka
authors.affiliation: d Department of Health and Sports Sciences , Tokyo Gakugei University , 4-1-1 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei , Tokyo 184-8501 , Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashiwabara
authors.affiliation: d Department of Health and Sports Sciences , Tokyo Gakugei University , 4-1-1 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei , Tokyo 184-8501 , Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Physical activity; adolescents; gender; intensity; physical fitness