The World Health Organization recommends that children accumulate at least 60 minutes of
moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) daily. However, knowledge about
the association between physical activity (PA), physical fitness and body mass index (BMI)
among elementary school children in the Arctic is limited.
PURPOSE
To examine the association between PA levels, physical fitness and BMI in elementary school
children in Northern Norway.
METHODS
Elementary school children in 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th grade were recruited to wear an
accelerometer (wGT3X-BT, ActiGraph, LLC, Pensacola, United States) for seven consecutive
days (n=216). PA was categorized according to intensity, and dichotomized into reaching the
PA recommendations or not. Physical fitness was measured by using Test of Physical Fitness
(Fjørtoft et.al. 2011) consisting of a nine-item compound motor activity score that includes
various combinations of endurance, strength, agility, balance, and motor coordination, which
is calculated as total physical fitness based on z-scores. BMI (kilogram/height ²) was used as
body composition measure.
RESULTS
In total, 94 (43%) of 216 the children reached the recommendation of 60 min MVPA per day.
There was a significant difference (p<0.001) in total physical fitness score between boys
(3.01) and girls (-2.35). A positive association between physical fitness score and reaching the
PA recommendations was observed in 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th grade (p<.05). BMI was inversely
associated with physical fitness in 5^th and 7^th grade (p<0.05) but not in 1^st and 3^rd grade. There
was no significant association between those who achieved the PA recommendations and
BMI.
CONCLUSION
Children in elementary school who reach the recommendations for PA seem to have a higher
score on the physical fitness test, except for the first graders. BMI was not related to physical
fitness or reaching PA recommendations except an inverse association between BMI and
physical fitness in higher grades.