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Aim. A cross-sectional investigation to study the relations between aerobic fitness and somatic growth of Italian adolescents within a school context.
Methods. The Léger and Lambert 20-m shuttle run test scores were used to estimate the oxygen uptake (VO^sub 2max^) of 290 high school adolescent students aged 14-18 years. Descriptive statistics of body mass, standing height, body mass index (BMI) and of predicted VO^sub 2max^ were calculated within age and sex group.
Results. Body mass and standing height were significantly larger in males than in females, and significantly increased with age (P<0.002, analysis of variance). For standing height, a significant sex age interaction was found (P=0.0004), with a larger age-related increment in males than in females. No significant differences in BMI were found. VO^sub 2max^ was significantly influenced by sex and age. The age-related decrement in VO^sub 2max^ was larger in females than in males (P=0.001). Predicted VO^sub 2max^ was significantly related to BMI (males: r=-0.41; females: r=-0.336) and to body mass (females: r=-0.34; males: r=-0.352). A negative relationship between BMI and VO^sub 2max^ was found also in the overweight adolescents.
Conclusions. In both sexes, aerobic fitness declined with age. The decline was particularly evident in females. Low-cost methods to detect the nutritional level and aerobic performance of adolescents should be encouraged at school.
KEY WORDS: Adolescence - Body mass index - Obesity - Oxygen uptake - 20-m shuttle run test.
Regular physical activity is generally associated with health-related fitness, including cardiovascular endurance.1,2 In adolescence, physical activity reduces the risk of obesity, and improves psychological health and mood.1 Children are recommended to be early introduced to the benefits of a regular physical exercise.3 Parents and teachers should support them providing a correct development of exercise and nutrition habits.1 School must also encourage the learning of physical skills and the performance of physical activities.4,5
The aerobic performance of adolescents is declining, particularly in industrialized countries.6 Children and adolescents are reducing their physical activity both at school and during leisure time.2,7,8
The 20-m shuttle run test (20mSRT) described by Léger et al.9 is the most frequently used test to assess the aerobic fitness of children and adolescents.6,10 The 20mSRT is considered a reliable and valid field test to estimate the maximal oxygen uptake (VO^sub 2max^).6,11 VO^sub...