Ten year secular declines in the cardiorespiratory fitness of affluent English children are largely independent of changes in body mass index. Issue 1 (29th December 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sandercock, G; Voss, C; McConnell, D; Rayner, P
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 95:Issue 1(2010)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2009-12-29
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2009.162107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Secular changes in body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle-run test performance) were assessed in 10-year-old children from an affluent area of England in 1998 (n = 303; 158 boys and 145 girls) and 2008 (n = 315; 158 boys and 157 girls). Girls' BMI did not change over the 10 year period. There was a significant increase in boys' BMI (p = 0.02). Cardiorespiratory fitness declined significantly (p<0.001) in both boys (7%) and girls (9%). This study shows a large and worrying decline in cardiorespiratory fitness in children from an affluent area of England.