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Six-year changes in body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness of English schoolchildren from an affluent area

International Journal of Obesity volume 39, pages 1504–1507 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

We compared values of body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle-run test) of n=157 boys and n=150 girls aged 10–11 measured in 2014 with measures from 2008 and 1998. Boys’ fitness was lower (d=0.68) in 2014 than 2008, despite a small (d=0.37) decline in BMI. Girl’s BMI changed trivially (d=0.08) but cardiorespiratory fitness was lower (d=0.47) in 2014 than 2008. This study suggests fitness is declining at 0.95% per year, which exceeds the 0.8% rate of decline we reported between 1998 and 2008 and is double the global average of 0.43%. Declines in fitness were independent of changes in BMI suggesting continued reductions in English children’s habitual physical activity levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sports and Exercise Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK

    G R H Sandercock

  2. Department of Medicine, Obesity Research and Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,

    A Ogunleye

  3. Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,

    C Voss

Authors
  1. G R H Sandercock
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  2. A Ogunleye
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  3. C Voss
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Correspondence to G R H Sandercock.

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Sandercock, G., Ogunleye, A. & Voss, C. Six-year changes in body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness of English schoolchildren from an affluent area. Int J Obes 39, 1504–1507 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.105

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