Aerobic fitness and biological and sociodemographic indicators in female school children

Abstract

Aerobic fitness is an important health-related fitness component. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of age, growth, body composition, sexual maturation and socioeconomic status on the aerobic fitness of female school children attending public schools in Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil. Across-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 2006 on 1,317 school children aged 8 to17 years. Body mass, height and triceps and medial calf skinfold thickness were measured and relative body fat (%BF) was calculated. Sexual maturation was self-assessed using a breast development scale (M1 to M5). The questionnaire proposed by the Brazilian Association of Research Companies was used to assess socioeconomic status. Aerobic fitness was estimated by the 20-m shuttle runtest. The results were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Tukey post hoc test, Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression with 95% confidence intervals. Three variables (age, %BF and socioeconomic status) showed an interaction (p<0.05) in the prediction of VO2peakrel (R2=0.73). All independent variables (body mass, height, age, %BF, socioeconomic status, and sexual maturation) were significant predictors (p<0.05) of VO2picoabs (R2=0.88). In conclusion, chronological age and sexual maturation were the best predictors of VO2peakabs (positive) and VO2peakrel (negative).