Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School Study
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a key indicator of current and future health in children and adolescents, and is influenced by both physiological and behavioral factors. This study examined the associations between CRF, body composition, and health-relate...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/581 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850127349168734208 |
|---|---|
| author | Saül Aixa-Requena Álvaro Pano-Rodríguez Vicenç Hernández-González Enric Conesa-Milian Abraham Batalla-Gavaldà Jose Vicente Beltrán-Garrido Isaac López-Laval Francisco Corbi Rosa Arnau-Salvador Joaquín Reverter-Masia |
| author_facet | Saül Aixa-Requena Álvaro Pano-Rodríguez Vicenç Hernández-González Enric Conesa-Milian Abraham Batalla-Gavaldà Jose Vicente Beltrán-Garrido Isaac López-Laval Francisco Corbi Rosa Arnau-Salvador Joaquín Reverter-Masia |
| author_sort | Saül Aixa-Requena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a key indicator of current and future health in children and adolescents, and is influenced by both physiological and behavioral factors. This study examined the associations between CRF, body composition, and health-related habits in 685 children and adolescents (aged 8–16 years) who regularly participated in extracurricular sports programs in northeastern Spain. <b>Methods:</b> Participants underwent anthropometric assessments, completed a 20 m shuttle run test to evaluate CRF, and filled out validated questionnaires on physical activity levels, sleep quality, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. <b>Results:</b> Significant sex differences were observed, with boys achieving higher CRF performance (<i>p</i> < 0.001), primarily associated with greater muscle mass (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower body fat percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Age positively correlated with improved CRF (<i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas higher body mass index (<i>p</i> = 0.003) and fat mass (<i>p</i> = 0.020) negatively impacted fitness outcomes. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings underscore the critical role of physical activity and optimal body composition in promoting cardiorespiratory fitness among youth, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions to foster healthy behaviors from early childhood. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs to better elucidate the dynamic interactions between lifestyle factors, body composition, and physical fitness throughout childhood and adolescence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0b14fa2f278b4268b0ffb78ba8045d1c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-0b14fa2f278b4268b0ffb78ba8045d1c2025-08-20T02:33:42ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-04-0112558110.3390/children12050581Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School StudySaül Aixa-Requena0Álvaro Pano-Rodríguez1Vicenç Hernández-González2Enric Conesa-Milian3Abraham Batalla-Gavaldà4Jose Vicente Beltrán-Garrido5Isaac López-Laval6Francisco Corbi7Rosa Arnau-Salvador8Joaquín Reverter-Masia9Human Movement Research Group (RGHM), University of Lleida, Plaça de Víctor Siurana, 25003 Lleida, SpainHuman Movement Research Group (RGHM), University of Lleida, Plaça de Víctor Siurana, 25003 Lleida, SpainHuman Movement Research Group (RGHM), University of Lleida, Plaça de Víctor Siurana, 25003 Lleida, SpainHuman Movement Research Group (RGHM), University of Lleida, Plaça de Víctor Siurana, 25003 Lleida, SpainUniversity School of Health and Sport (EUSES), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43870 Amposta, SpainPhysical Exercise and Performance Research Group, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Castellon de la Plana, 12006 Castellón, SpainFaculty of Health and Sport Science, Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Huesca, SpainNational Institute of Sport and Physical Education (INEFC), University of Lleida, 25003 Lleida, SpainHuman Movement Research Group (RGHM), University of Lleida, Plaça de Víctor Siurana, 25003 Lleida, SpainHuman Movement Research Group (RGHM), University of Lleida, Plaça de Víctor Siurana, 25003 Lleida, Spain<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a key indicator of current and future health in children and adolescents, and is influenced by both physiological and behavioral factors. This study examined the associations between CRF, body composition, and health-related habits in 685 children and adolescents (aged 8–16 years) who regularly participated in extracurricular sports programs in northeastern Spain. <b>Methods:</b> Participants underwent anthropometric assessments, completed a 20 m shuttle run test to evaluate CRF, and filled out validated questionnaires on physical activity levels, sleep quality, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. <b>Results:</b> Significant sex differences were observed, with boys achieving higher CRF performance (<i>p</i> < 0.001), primarily associated with greater muscle mass (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower body fat percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Age positively correlated with improved CRF (<i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas higher body mass index (<i>p</i> = 0.003) and fat mass (<i>p</i> = 0.020) negatively impacted fitness outcomes. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings underscore the critical role of physical activity and optimal body composition in promoting cardiorespiratory fitness among youth, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions to foster healthy behaviors from early childhood. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs to better elucidate the dynamic interactions between lifestyle factors, body composition, and physical fitness throughout childhood and adolescence.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/581physical activityyouth healthcardiorespiratory fitnessbody compositiongender differences |
| spellingShingle | Saül Aixa-Requena Álvaro Pano-Rodríguez Vicenç Hernández-González Enric Conesa-Milian Abraham Batalla-Gavaldà Jose Vicente Beltrán-Garrido Isaac López-Laval Francisco Corbi Rosa Arnau-Salvador Joaquín Reverter-Masia Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School Study Children physical activity youth health cardiorespiratory fitness body composition gender differences |
| title | Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School Study |
| title_full | Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School Study |
| title_fullStr | Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School Study |
| title_short | Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Spanish Youth: The Roles of Sex, Age, Body Composition, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Cor-School Study |
| title_sort | cardiorespiratory fitness in spanish youth the roles of sex age body composition and healthy lifestyle habits in cor school study |
| topic | physical activity youth health cardiorespiratory fitness body composition gender differences |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/581 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saulaixarequena cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT alvaropanorodriguez cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT vicenchernandezgonzalez cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT enricconesamilian cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT abrahambatallagavalda cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT josevicentebeltrangarrido cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT isaaclopezlaval cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT franciscocorbi cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT rosaarnausalvador cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy AT joaquinrevertermasia cardiorespiratoryfitnessinspanishyouththerolesofsexagebodycompositionandhealthylifestylehabitsincorschoolstudy |