Physical Activity and Physical Fitness of Lithuanian Children

Background. Health-related physical fitness refers to the favorable health status, i.e. ability to perform daily activities with vigor, as well as capacities that are associated with a low risk for development of chronic diseases and premature death. However, in school aged children it is constantly declining, which prognosticates increasingly earlier onset of health problems, decreasing the quality of life of the population and financial burden for the society (Li et al, 2011; Ruiz et al, 2009; Andersen et al, 2004). As well, overweight and obesity in childhood and youth lead to lifelong overweight and obesity and are associated with greater risk and earlier onset of a range of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes as well as psychological disorders. In turn, overweight and obese youth have lower chances to improve their physical fitness capacities. Many western societies are faced with a recent worrying trend of declining physical fitness and, at the same time, increasing rates of overweight and obesity among children and youth. Among the main risk factors for decreasing physical fitness are the increasing levels of sedentary behavior and low physical activity.

The current presentation will cover two epidemiological studies executed among Lithuanian school age children of 11 – 18 years-old that aimed to identify the levels of their physical activity and physical fitness across gender and age.

Physical activity

Methods and results. Physical activity was measured by Physician-based Assessment and Counselling for Exercise (PACE) questionnaire among 5141 adolescents, 2502 boys (48.7%) and 2639 girls (51.3%), aged between 11 and 19 years.

It was found that on average adolescents met the physical activity guideline of 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a day, for 3.6 days/week. A total of 3426 adolescents (66.6%) were inactive or has not performed at least 1 h of physical activity/day < 5 days/week). Boys were more active than girls and younger adolescents (11–12 years) were significantly more active than older adolescents (13–19 years).

Physical fitness

Methods and results. Data for physical fitness indicators were collected from three separate cross-sectional samples in 1992, 2002 and 2012. The Eurofit test battery was used to assess the different components of physical fitness: balance, flexibility, muscular strength, power and endurance, agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. The battery has been validated in adolescents as informative in the assessment of physical fitness. Weight and height were also measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated.

The results revealed a consistent increase in body mass of children of both genders between 1992 and 2012. The study also showed loss of flexibility, leg muscle power, upper body strength and cardiorespiratory fitness between 1992 and 2012. Among the measured physical fitness abilities, loss in endurance 20 m shuttle run performance (a proxy for aerobic fitness and cardiorespiratory endurance) was the most dramatic and while the decrement was more substantial from 1992 to 2002, the negative change while at a slower pace continued until 2012. Although there was an improvement in abdominal muscle strength in girls, agility in boys and balance in both genders during the same period. At large, negative trends in aspects of fitness seen between 1992 and 2002 have not slowed down between 2002 and 2012. Positive trends in agility and abdominal muscle strength seen before 2002 have regressed or were reversed between 2002 and 2012, while balance continued to improve at increased pace. The analysis of covariance has shown that BMI was not the main cause of changes in fitness.

Conclusion. If these general negative trends in physical activity and physical fitness among Lithuanian school-aged children continues, it will compromise the well-being of future adults and create a serious economic burden on the society. The findings of these studies suggest that it is necessary to increase the level of physical activity in Lithuanian adolescents through implementing multidisciplinary programs to reinforce the practice of physical activity and improve physical fitness. Moreover, environmental elements such as social and physical environmental factors should be considered when designing and implementing these multidisciplinary programs.