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Body composition and physical fitness of undernourished South African rural primary school children

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 877–883 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between the body composition characteristics, body mass index (BMI), sum of skinfolds (SSF), % body fat (%BF), fat-free mass (FFM) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and nine physical fitness items in undernourished rural primary school children in Ellisras, South Africa.

Design:

A cross-sectional study.

Setting:

The study consisted of 462 boys and 393 girls who were aged 7–14 y.

Measurements:

Five body composition measures were assessed: BMI, SSF, %BF, FFM and WHR. Nine physical fitness test items were assessed: standing long jump, bent arm hang, sit-ups, 10 × 5 m shuttle run, 50 m sprint, 1600 m run, flamingo balance, sit and reach, plate tapping.

Results:

BMI was highly correlated with FFM (r=0.7, P<0.001). In line with findings from Western countries, regression coefficients (B) showed that children with higher BMI or SSF performed worse in bent arm hang (girls, B=−0.84, P<0.001, and B=−0.06, P=0.02, respectively) and in 1600 m run (B=6.68, P<0.001). BMI was significantly associated with flamingo balance (B=0.26, P=0.04). WHR was positively associated with bent arm hang (B=9.37, P=0.03), and inversely with sit and reach (B=−7.48, P=0.01). In contrast, significant relationships were found between BMI and standing long jump (B=0.74, P=0.04), sit and reach (B=0.51, P<0.001), flamingo balance (B=0.26, P=0.04) and plate tapping (B=−19, P=0.01). SSF was significantly associated with sit and reach (B=0.04, P=0.03). Significant inverse associations were found between FFM and bent arm hang (girls, B=−0.06, P=0.05), 1600 m run (girls, B=−2.33, P=0.003) and 50 m run (boys, B=−0.11, P=0.006). FFM was significantly associated with standing long jump (boys, B=0.99, P<0.001; girls, B=0.73, P<0.001), flamingo balance (B=0.17, P<0.001), and with sit and reach (boys, B=0.59, P=0.03).

Conclusion:

In the present study in undernourished children, body composition was significantly related to physical fitness, but not always in the expected direction. It is therefore important to note that in this population, BMI should not be interpreted as a measure of fatness/overweight, but rather as an indicator of muscle mass.

Sponsorship:

Financial support was received from the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the University of the North, Sovenga, South Africa.

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Acknowledgements

The cooperation of community leaders, school authorities, parents and children in the Ellisras area is greatly appreciated. We thank the field workers for their assistance in the collection of the data. The financial support from the University of the North and Vrije Universiteit are acknowledged. We are thankful to the director of the School for Biokinetic, Recreation and Sport Science, Professor DDJ Malan (North West University) and to Dr H van der Erve (Vrije Universiteit) for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    M A Monyeki & A E Pienaar

  2. VU University Medical Center, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO), Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    L L J Koppes, H C G Kemper & J W R Twisk

  3. Chronic Disease of Lifestyle Unit, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa

    K D Monyeki

  4. Sports and Physical Rehabilitation Science, Tswane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

    A L Toriola

  5. VU University Medical Center, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J W R Twisk

Authors
  1. M A Monyeki
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  2. L L J Koppes
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  3. H C G Kemper
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  4. K D Monyeki
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  5. A L Toriola
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Correspondence to M A Monyeki.

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Guarantors: MA Monyeki, HCG Kemper, LLJ Koppes and JWR Twisk.

Contributors: All authors jointly played a critical role in the development and finalisation of the manuscript. HCGK provided critical inputs in the writing of the paper. JWRT and LLJK played a role in statistical analyses, the interpretation of the results and writing of the paper. ALT and KDM are collaborators of the Ellisras Longitudinal Study and commented on drafts of the paper. AEP commented on drafts of the paper.

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Monyeki, M., Koppes, L., Kemper, H. et al. Body composition and physical fitness of undernourished South African rural primary school children. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 877–883 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602153

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