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

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Ortega, F.B, Ruiz, J.R, Castillo, M.J, Sjostrom, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.01.2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: abdominal fat; adipose tissue; Adiposity - physiology; Adolescent; adolescent nutrition; adolescents; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Child; Child development; child nutrition; Children; emotions; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Fatigue; Female; Health aspects; Health behavior; Health policy; Health Promotion; Health risks; Health Status; Humans; literature reviews; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mental depression; Metabolic diseases; Miscellaneous; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Nutrition; Obesity; Pediatrics; physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Physiology; Prevention; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of life; Risk Factors; Schools; self-esteem; Sweden; Human; Physical exercise; Obesity; Adipose tissue; cardiovascular disease risk factors; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; Biological marker; Metabolic diseases; Cardiovascular disease; health; Epidemiology; Osteoarticular system; Adiposity; children; Adolescent; Risk factor; Cardiovascular risk; Bone; Child; Nutritional status; Public health; Fitness
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803774

This review aims to summarize the latest developments with regard to physical fitness and several health outcomes in young people. The literature reviewed suggests that (1) cardiorespiratory fitness levels are associated with total and abdominal adiposity; (2) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness are shown to be associated with established and emerging cardiovascular disease risk factors; (3) improvements in muscular fitness and speed/agility, rather than cardiorespiratory fitness, seem to have a positive effect on skeletal health; (4) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness enhancements are recommended in pediatric cancer patients/survivors in order to attenuate fatigue and improve their quality of life; and (5) improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness have positive effects on depression, anxiety, mood status and self-esteem, and seem also to be associated with a higher academic performance. In conclusion, health promotion policies and physical activity programs should be designed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, but also two other physical fitness components such us muscular fitness and speed/agility. Schools may play an important role by identifying children with low physical fitness and by promoting positive health behaviors such as encouraging children to be active, with special emphasis on the intensity of the activity.