BACKGROUND: The measurement of physical fitness has a history that dates back nearly 200 years. Recently, there has been an increase in international research and surveillance on physical fitness creating a need for setting international priorities that could help guide future efforts. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to produce a list of the top 10 international priorities for research and surveillance on physical fitness among children and adolescents. METHODS: Using a twin-panel Delphi method, two independent panels consisting of 46 international experts were identified (panel 1 = 28, panel 2 = 18). The panel participants were asked to list up to five priorities for research or surveillance (round 1), and then rated the items from their own panel on a 5-point Likert scale of importance (round 2). In round 3, experts were asked to rate the priorities identified by the other panel. RESULTS: There was strong between-panel agreement (panel 1: rs = 0.76, p < 0.01; panel 2: rs = 0.77, p < 0.01) in the priorities identified. The list of the final top 10 priorities included (i) "conduct longitudinal studies to assess changes in fitness and associations with health". This was followed by (ii) "use fitness surveillance to inform decision making", and (iii) "implement regular and consistent international/national fitness surveys using common measures". CONCLUSIONS: The priorities identified in this study provide guidance for future international collaborations and research efforts on the physical fitness of children and adolescents over the next decade and beyond.
OBJECTIVES: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6-18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack); (2) to provide comparisons across European countries. METHODS: This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness); handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength); and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method. RESULTS: A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including individual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online (www.fitbackeurope.eu). CONCLUSION: This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe.
- MeSH
- cvičení MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- referenční hodnoty MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- síla ruky * MeSH
- tělesná výkonnost * MeSH
- zátěžový test metody MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Slovenia is a pioneer in the systematic monitoring of physical fitness in children and adolescents. In 1969, a national system for monitoring physical and somatic development, called the Sports Educational Chart, was developed and later revised in 1987. Since 1987, all Slovenian primary and secondary schools complete three anthropometric and eight physical fitness measures to assess child development on the population level. The results are processed by the Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Laboratory of Physical and Motor Development. The Laboratory provides feedback to every schoolchild, class and school. In recent years, advanced IT support was upgraded and renamed as the SLOfit system. Registered users of SLOfit, consist of PE teachers, parents, children, and physicians, who are able to use the on-line application My SLOfit. Through My SLOfit, individuals can follow their development, assess health risks or get advice. The web platform facilitates cooperation between the educational and health system enabling a holistic approach to developmental difficulties. The My SLOfit application works as a powerful communication tool with other platforms, including a website (www.slofit.org), and Facebook. This article presents the basic features of the SLOfit surveillance system and highlights its development as a support tool for efficient, holistic data use.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pohybová aktivita * MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- školy MeSH
- statistika jako téma MeSH
- tělesná výchova * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovinsko MeSH
Many school-based physical activity (PA) interventions have been developed, but only a few have assessed their long-term effects. A PA intervention taking place in the first four years of some Slovenian primary schools entails an enhanced physical education (PE) curriculum, including two extra lessons of PE per week, a wider selection of PE content, and additional outdoor education delivered by both a specialist PE teacher and a general teacher. The effects of the intervention on children's physical fitness (motor tasks and anthropometry) were evaluated within a quasi-experimental study. In total, 324 children from nine Slovenian primary schools either received the enhanced curriculum (intervention (n=160)) or standard PE (control (n=164)), and were followed for a four-year intervention period and seven years post intervention. Data from the SLOFIT database were used to compare differences in the physical fitness of children each year. Linear Mixed Models were used to test the influence of the PA intervention. Over an 11-year period, the PA intervention group significantly differed in all motor tasks, but not in anthropometric measures or body mass index, after controlling for year of measurement and sex. Differences between the control and intervention groups decreased with time. This study highlights the importance of tracking the long term effects of PA interventions. PA intervention in the first four years of Slovenian primary school offers the possibility of improving physical performance in children; initiatives aiming to increase their performance (physical fitness, physical activity) and health outcomes are warranted.
- MeSH
- cvičení * MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- longitudinální studie MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- motorické dovednosti MeSH
- podpora zdraví MeSH
- školy statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- tělesná výchova statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- tělesná výkonnost * MeSH
- tělesné váhy a míry * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Geographic variability of children fatness and fitness is important for understanding the effects of various distinct lifestyles of young people. The purpose of this study is to compare the physical fitness of girls in capitals of two western Balkan countries: Serbia and Slovenia. The cluster sample of 138 subjects consists of 13-year-old primary school girls from Belgrade and Ljubljana. All subjects were measured in the 2006/2007 academic year. Data from the Eurofit system were used in the analysis. A multivariate analysis of variance has shown that there are statistically significant (p<0.001) differences between the countries for the entire set of tested motor and morphological variables. The girls from Ljubljana are more physically fit in comparison to girls from Belgrade despite there are negligible differences in body weight and BMI among them. Yet girls from both capitals have above-average cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m endurance shuttle-run) and lower-limb explosive strength (standing broad jump) compared to their counterparts from elsewhere in Europe (Ortega et al., 2011). Girls from Ljubljana scored around the 85th percentile of tests performance values, while Belgrade girls were in the 75th percentile in cardiorespiratory fitness and the 55th percentile in lower-limb explosive strength.
- Klíčová slova
- pohybové dovednosti, BMI, Eurofit test, bývalá Jugoslávie, geografické faktory,
- MeSH
- cvičení MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- městské obyvatelstvo * MeSH
- motorické dovednosti MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- socioekonomické faktory MeSH
- statistika jako téma MeSH
- studenti * MeSH
- tělesná výkonnost * fyziologie MeSH
- velkoměsta MeSH
- zátěžový test statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovinsko MeSH
- Srbsko MeSH
- velkoměsta MeSH
The purpose of this study was to examine the sponsorship potential of Slovenian sport. The sample of measured subjects was a total of 494 potential sponsors/managers of Slovenian companies. A questionnaire was used to examine which sports disciplines are the most interesting for sponsorship, what goals the companies try to fulfil when sponsoring and how the personal attitudes of managers towards sport influences sponsoring. The results of the study revealed that the companies are interested in sponsoring Slovenian sport; however, the range of sports disciplines that interests sponsors is relatively small. The most interesting sports for sponsors are basketball, football, alpine skiing, ski jumping and handball. Compared to previous findings (Bednarik et al., 1998), an increase of the interest for football and a decrease for alpine skiing has been noticed. From the strategic planning point of view, it is important to realize that companies have different sponsorship goals according to their size and that the decision for sponsoring sport is not a result of the individual interest of the manager or his personal affection for sport. The marketing strategy of the company plays a decisive role; currently, the strategy is more directed to the social recognition of the company, its products and services. The most important goals for the sponsorship Slovenian sport are the appearance of the name and the logo of the company, the inclusion of the company in the social environment and improving public opinion of the company. Companies have different sponsorship goals than several years ago (Bednarik et al., 1998); they are particularly more focused on the responsibility and the role of the company in society. In order to attract more sponsorship money, sports organizations will have to approach sponsorship systematically and better present advertising possibilities to potential sponsors. They will also have to develop new products to satisfy sponsorship goals.
- MeSH
- basketbal MeSH
- etika podnikání MeSH
- finanční podpora etika MeSH
- fotbal MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- marketing ekonomika metody pracovní síly MeSH
- obchod ekonomika metody MeSH
- průmysl ekonomika metody pracovní síly MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- sporty na sněhu MeSH
- sporty ekonomika klasifikace statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovinsko MeSH
- MeSH
- agrese MeSH
- chování dětí MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- motorické dovednosti MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- puberta MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
