Physical fitness and the physical activity status of 15-year-old adolescents in a semi-urban community

Abstract

Continuous research with regards to physical activity and physical fitness patterns of children is essential for the development and implementation of health promotion
programmes. This study aimed to determine the physical fitness (PF) and physical
activity (PA) status of 15-year-old adolescent learners from a low socio-economic, semi–
urban community in the North-West province of South Africa, and the relationships
between PF, PA and distances the children walked to school. Grade 8 learners of two
schools were selected for the study: School 1 (N=252), 116 boys; 136 girls, School 2
(N=66), 21 boys; 45 girls. The testing protocol included fitness tests for aerobic
endurance, flexibility and body composition and the PDPAR questionnaire to determine
PA levels. The results indicated that the boys and girls in School 1 and boys in School 2
were moderately active, while the girls in School 2 showed a significant lower PA level.
Longer commuting distances and higher mean physical fitness values were found in
School 1, while more hours of watching television were found among boys and girls
(p<0.05) in School 2. Poor strength levels, falling outside the healthy fitness zone,
showed negative relationships with aerobic fitness and flexibility. Television viewing
time and commuting distances to school appeared to have a moderate influence on the
moderate to low PA levels of the total group, and physical activity showed a relationship
with higher fitness values. It is recommended that activity intervention strategies must
aim to empower adolescents with knowledge and skills to enable them to improve their
PA levels and strength.

Keywords: Physical fitness; Physical activity; Adolescents; Low socio-economic environment.

SAJRSPER Vol. 30 (1) 2008 pp. 59-73