AUTHOR=Ma Ning , Dang Jiajia , Liu Yunfei , Zhong Panliang , Yan Xiaojin , Zhang Jingshu , Dong Yanhui , Song Yi , Ma Jun , Lau Patrick W. C. 

TITLE=Percentile Curves for Multiple Physical Fitness Components Among Chinese Han Children and Adolescents Aged 7–18 Years From a National Survey Based on the Total and the Normal Weight Population

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.770349

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.770349

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=Introduction: To develop sex- and age-specific percentile curves for seven physical fitness components for Chinese Han children and adolescents aged 7–18 years based on the total and the normal weight population using a nationally representative sample.
Methods: A total of 214,228 Chinese Han children and adolescents aged 7–18 years old with all nutritional status and 161,999 with normal weight were examined. Seven physical fitness components (forced vital capacity, standing long jump, 50-m dash, sit-and-reach, grip strength, body muscle strength and endurance running) were measured, and percentile curves for each physical fitness component at the 20th, 40th, 60th and 80th percentiles were calculated using the general additive model for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS).
Results: Physical fitness presents different characteristics in each subgroup of sex, age group and nutritional status among children and adolescents. Sex- and age-specific percentiles for the seven physical fitness components among Chinese Han children and adolescents aged 7–18 years based on the total and the normal weight population were provided as curves.. Boys performed better than girls in forced vital capacity, standing long jump, 50-m dash, grip strength and endurance running but worse in sit-and-reach. The performances of forced vital capacity, standing long jump, 50-m dash, grip strength, body muscle strength and endurance running increased with age, but the estimates of sit-and-reach were at the bottom among boys aged 12 years and girls aged 11 years. The annual increments of all components were larger in boys than girls at the peak time, which was earlier in girls than boys. The gap of physical fitness components between sexes increased with age, especially during puberty (since after 11 years old).
Conclusion: The present study described the percentile curves of seven physical fitness components among Chinese Han children and adolescents based on the total and the normal weight population at national level, which could help to chart the level of physical fitness across age span and identify the extreme populations with either health concerns or potential talents.