Title European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network
Authors Ortega F.B. , Leskošek B. , Blagus R. , GIL COSANO, JOSÉ JUAN, Mäestu J. , Tomkinson G.R. , Ruiz J.R. , Mäestu E. , Starc G. , Milanovic I. , Tammelin T.H. , Soric M. , Scheuer C. , Carraro A. , Kaj M. , Csányi T. , Sardinha L.B. , Lenoir M. , Emeljanovas A. , Mieziene B. , Sidossis L.S. , Pihu M. , Lovecchio N. , Konstabel K. , Tambalis K.D. , Štefan L. , Drenowatz C. , Rubín L. , Gontarev S. , Castro-Piñero J. , Vanhelst J. , O'Keeffe B. , Veiga O.L. , Gisladottir T. , Sandercock G. , Misigoj-Durakovic M. , Niessner C. , Riso E.-M. , Popovic S. , Kuu S. , Chinapaw M. , Clavel I. , Labayen I. , Dobosz J. , Colella D. , Kriemler S. , Salaj S. , Noriega M.J. , Bös K. , Sánchez-López M. , Lakka T.A. , Tabacchi G. , Novak D. , Ahrens W. , Wedderkopp N. , Jurak G. , FitBack , HELENA and IDEFICS consortia
External publication No
Means BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
Scope Article
Nature Científica
JCR Quartile 1
SJR Quartile 1
JCR Impact 11.6
SJR Impact 4.691
Web https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85148307223&doi=10.1136%2fbjsports-2022-106176&partnerID=40&md5=fe8303ac9f4fe9933cd6418ea91a7797
Publication date 16/02/2023
ISI 000926649900001
Scopus Id 2-s2.0-85148307223
DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176
Abstract OBJECTIVES: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6-18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack); (2) to provide comparisons across European countries. METHODS: This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness); handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength); and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method. RESULTS: A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including individual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online (www.fitbackeurope.eu). CONCLUSION: This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Keywords adolescent; body mass; child; exercise; exercise test; female; fitness; hand strength; human; male; procedures; reference value; reproducibility; Adolescent; Body Mass Index; Child; Exercise; Exercise Test; Female; Hand Strength; Humans; Male; Physical Fitness; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results
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