Health-related fitness of American Indian youth.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

UNLABELLED: A physically fit lifestyle is important for American Indian (AI) youth who are at risk for hypokinetic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes. Some evidence exists on the physical activity patterns of AI youth, but there is little information on their health-related fitness.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the health-related fitness levels of youth living in an AI community.

METHOD: Participants included youth from 5th to 9th grade (N = 85) in a Southwestern U.S. AI community. Youth were of AI descent and were 12.36 +/- 1.68 years of age. Participants completed 5 parts of the FITNESSGRAM fitness test during physical education. The tests included the Progressive Aerobic Cardiorespiratory Endurance Run fitness test (cardiovascular fitness), curl-up (muscular endurance), pushup (muscular strength), sit-and-reach (flexibility), and body mass index (estimated body composition).

RESULTS: Results were similar to other youth studies with some of the students reaching the healthy fitness zone for muscular strength (28%), body composition (30%), flexibility (60%), aerobic fitness (63%), and muscular endurance (74%).

CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the capacity for improvement for students across all of the components of health-related fitness.

Medical Subject Headings

Adolescent; Body Composition; Child; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Indians, North American; Male; Muscle Strength; Physical Fitness; United States

Publication Date

6-1-2014

Publication Title

Research quarterly for exercise and sport

ISSN

0270-1367

Volume

85

Issue

2

First Page

257

Last Page

261

PubMed ID

25098022

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/02701367.2014.893050

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