Physical fitness and body composition in 8-10-year-old Danish children are associated with sports club participation

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Malte Nejst Larsen
  • Claus M Nielsen
  • Christina Øyangen Ørntoft
  • Morten Bredsgaard Randers
  • Vibeke Manniche
  • Lone Hansen
  • Hansen, Peter Riis
  • Bangsbo, Jens
  • Peter Krustrup

We investigated whether physical fitness and body composition in 8-10-year-old Danish children are associated with sports club participation. The study included 423 schoolchildren, comprising 209 girls and 214 boys, of whom 67 and 74%, respectively, were active in sports clubs. Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 for Children (YYIR1C), balance, jump and coordination tests, together with DXA scans, were used to determine exercise capacity and body composition. Children active in sports clubs had better (P<0.05) YYIR1C (33%, 767±26 vs. 575±29 m), 20-m sprint (3%, 4.33±0.03 vs. 4.48±0.04 s), coordination (6%, 68±1 vs. 72±1 s) and balance test performances (9%, 19.3±0.5 vs. 21.2±0.7 falls/min) and lower fat mass index (16%, 3.8±0.1 vs. 4.5±0.2 kg(fat)·m) than children not active in sports clubs. Ball game players had better (P<0.05) YYIR1C (38%, 925±39 vs. 671±28 m), 20-m sprint (4%, 4.25±0.03 vs. 4.42±0.04 s) and coordination test performances (5%, 65±1 vs. 69±1 s), along with higher (P<0.05) lean body mass (5%, 24.00±0.22 vs. 22.83±0.25 kg) and whole-body BMD (2%, 0.90±0.00 vs. 0.88±0.00 g/cm) compared to children active in other sports. The study showed that 8-10-year-old Danish children engaged in sports club activity, especially ball game players, have better exercise capacity and superior body composition compared to children not active in sports clubs.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Volume31
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)3425-3434
Number of pages10
ISSN1064-8011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Research areas

  • DXA, Body fat, Lean body mass, Body mineralization

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