Health-related fitness in school children of low economic status in the city of Cambé- Paraná

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the fitness level related to health in 11-12 year-old school children of low social and economical status in the city of Cambé in a sample of 108 boys and 127 girls. Body mass (BM), height and skinfold thickness (SFT) measures were used to determine the body mass index (BMI) and the sum of subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness. The sit-and-reach, extension and bending of the arms (EBA) in suspension in a bar, modified sit-up and 9-minute walk/run tests, were used to check levels of motor performance. The girls presented better results on the BM, height and SFT variables compared to boys in terms of anthropometric analysis. On the other hand, boys presented better results in the motor performance variables, compared to girls. However, the girls were superior to boys on the sit-and-reach test. Upon confronting these results with the figures established by AAPHERD (1988), it was evidenced that in all tests the sample was considered below the ideal criteria, except on the EBA test in which both genders presented results above the proposed ones.