Open Access
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
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2023) Ortega, Francisco B.; Leskošek, Bojan; Blagus, Rok; Gil Cosano, José J.; Mäestu, Jarek; Tomkinson, Grant R.; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Mäestu, Evelin; Starc, Gregor; Milanovic, Ivana; Tammelin, Tuija H.; Soric, Maroje; Scheuer, Claude; Carraro, Attilio; Kaj, Mónika; Csányi, Tamás; Sardinha, Luis B.; Lenoir, Matthieu; Emeljanovas, Arunas; Mieziene, Brigita; Sidossis, Labros S.; Pihu, Maret; Lovecchio, Nicola; Konstabel, Kenn; Tambalis, Konstantinos D.; Stefan, Lovro; Drenowatz, Clemens; Rubín, Lukáš; Gontarev, Seryozha; Castro Piñero, José; Vanhelst, Jérémy; O'Keeffe, Brendan; Veiga, Óscar L.; Gisladottir, Thordis; Sandercock, Gavin; Misigoj-Durakovic, Marjeta; Niessner, Claudia; Riso, Eva-María; Popovic, Stevo; Kuu, Saima; Chinapaw, Mai; Clavel, Iván; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Dobosz, Janusz; Colella, Dario; Kriemler, Susi; Salaj, Sanja; Noriega, María José; Bös, Klaus; Sánchez López, Mairena; Lakka, Timo A.; Tabacchi, Garden; Novak, Dario; Ahrens, W.; Wedderkopp, Niels; Jurak, Gregor; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
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.
Open Access
Impact of COVID-19 confinement on physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Spanish university students: role of gender
(MDPI, 2021) Rodríguez Larrad, Ana; Mañas, Asier; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; González Gross, Marcela; Espin, Ander; Aznar, Susana; Serrano Sánchez, José Antonio; Vera García, Francisco J.; González Lamuño, Domingo; Ara, Ignacio; Carrasco Páez, Luis; Castro Piñero, José; Gómez Cabrera, Mari Carmen; Márquez, Sara; Tur, Josep A.; Gusi, Narcís; Benito, Pedro J.; Moliner-Urdiales, Diego; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Ortega, Francisco B.; Jiménez Pavón, David; Casajús, José Antonio; Irazusta, Jon; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Ciencias de la Salud
During the COVID-19 pandemic, entire populations were instructed to live in home-confinement to prevent the expansion of the disease. Spain was one of the countries with the strictest conditions, as outdoor physical activity was banned for nearly two months. This study aimed to analyse the changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours in Spanish university students before and during the confinement by COVID-19 with special focus on gender. We also analysed enjoyment, the tools used and motivation and impediments for doing physical activity. An online questionnaire, which included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and certain 'ad hoc' questions, was designed. Students were recruited by distributing an invitation through the administrative channels of 16 universities and a total of 13,754 valid surveys were collected. Overall, university students reduced moderate (-29.5%) and vigorous (-18.3%) physical activity during the confinement and increased sedentary time (+52.7%). However, they spent more time on high intensity interval training (HIIT) (+18.2%) and mind-body activities (e.g., yoga) (+80.0%). Adaptation to the confinement, in terms of physical activity, was handled better by women than by men. These results will help design strategies for each gender to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour during confinement periods.
Open Access
Validity and reliability of the international fItness scale (IFIS) in preschool children
(Taylor & Francis, 2022) Sánchez López, Mairena; García Hermoso, Antonio; Ortega, Francisco B.; Moliner-Urdiales, Diego; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Castro Piñero, José; Benito, Pedro J.; Vicente Rodríguez, Germán; Sanchís Moysi, Joaquín; Cantallops, Jaume; Artero, E. G.; Martínez Vizcaíno, Vicente; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objectives Examine the validity and reliability of parent-reported International FItness Scale (IFIS) in preschoolers. Method A cross-sectional study of 3051 Spanish preschoolers (3-5 years). Fitness was measured by PREFIT battery and reported by parents using an adapted version of the IFIS. Waist circumference was evaluated, and the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was calculated. Seventy-six parents of randomly selected schoolchildren completed the IFIS twice for a reliability assessment. Results ANCOVA, adjusted for sex, age and WHtR, showed that preschoolers who were scored by their parents as having average-to-very good fitness had better levels of measured physical fitness than those preschoolers who were classified as having very poor/poor fitness levels (18.1laps to 22.1laps vs 15.6laps for cardiorespiratory fitness; 6.6 kg to 7.5 kg vs 5.3 kg for muscular fitness-handgrip-; 71.7 cm to 76.4 cm vs 62.0 cm for muscular fitness-standing long jump-; 17.2s to 16.2s vs 18.2s for speed/agility; and 11.2s to 15.6s vs 8.7s for balance; p < 0.001). The weighted kappa for concordance between parent-reported fitness levels and objective assessment was poor (kappa <= 0.18 for all fitness measures). Overall, the mean values of the abdominal adiposity indicators were significantly lower in high-level fitness categories reported by parents than in low-level fitness categories (p < 0.05). The test-retest reliability ranged from 0.46 to 0.62. Conclusions The reliability of the parent-reported IFIS are acceptable, but the concordance between parents reported and objectively measures fitness levels is poor, suggesting that parents' responses may not be able to correctly classify preschoolers according to their fitness level.

Labayen Goñi, Idoia

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