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

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Germán Vicente-Rodriguez for his valuable suggestions, and Emma Patterson for her useful comments and for the English revision. Funding: The AVENA study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS no 00/0015) and grants from Panrico SA, Madaus SA and Procter and Gamble SA. The EYHS was supported by grants from the Stockholm County Council. The HELENA study takes place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT-2005-007034). The ALPHA study received funding from the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme (ref: 2006120). Francisco B Ortega and Jonatan R Ruiz are supported by grants from CSD in Spain (109/UPB31/03 and 13/UPB20/04), the Spanish Ministry of Education (AP2003-2128, AP-2004-2745) and the Margit and Folke Pehrzon Foundation. The content of this article reflects only the authors’ views, and the European Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

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Ortega, F., Ruiz, J., Castillo, M. et al. Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health. Int J Obes 32, 1–11 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803774

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