Movement behaviors and health-related fitness among peripubertal adolescents: 2012 NHANES national youth fitness survey data

摘要

BACKGROUND: Less than half of adolescents in the United States meet the recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and health-related fitness (HRF). Using the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey data, this study aimed to examine the associations of movement behaviors (i.e., MVPA and screen-based sedentary behaviors) with HRF (i.e., cardiovascular and muscular fitness) among 11-16-year-old peripubertal boys and girls, respectively. METHODS: A total of 470 adolescents (227 boys, 243 girls; age: 13.59 +/- 1.12 years old) from the 2012 NHANES dataset were included. The study variables included movement behaviors (i.e., MVPA and screen-based sedentary behavior), anthropometric indices (i.e., waist circumference, Body Mass Index BMI), and HRF (i.e., cardiovascular fitness and muscular fitness). Correlational and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for boys and girls, respectively. RESULTS: MVPA significantly predicted cardiovascular fitness for boys (beta=0.16, P<0.05) and girls (beta=0.15, P<0.05) regardless of weight status; screen-based sedentary behavior and waist circumference in girls significantly predicted muscular fitness (beta=-0.13 and beta=-0.42, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: To increase overall HRF in peripubertal girls and boys, it is important to help them maintain healthy weight status and to promote MVPA and limit screen-based sedentary behavior, especially in adolescent girls.