RT journal article
T1 European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network
A1 Ortega, Francisco B.
A1 Leskošek, Bojan
A1 Blagus, Rok
A1 Gil Cosano, José J.
A1 Mäestu, Jarek
A1 Tomkinson, Grant R.
A1 Ruiz, Jonatan R.
A1 Mäestu, Evelin
A1 Starc, Gregor
A1 Milanovic, Ivana
A1 Tammelin, Tuija H.
A1 Sorić, Maroje
A1 Scheuer, Claude
A1 Carraro, Attilio
A1 Kaj, Mónika
A1 Csányi, Tamás
A1 Sardinha, Luis B.
A1 Lenoir, Matthieu
A1 Emeljanovas, Arunas
A1 Mieziene, Brigita
A1 Sidossis, Labros S.
A1 Pihu, Maret
A1 Lovecchio, Nicola
A1 Konstabel, Kenn
A1 Tambalis, Konstantinos D.
A1 Štefan, Lovro
A1 Drenowatz, Clemens
A1 Rubín, Lukáš
A1 Gontarev, Seryozha
A1 Castro Piñero, José
A1 Vanhelst, Jeremy
A1 O'Keeffe, Brendan
A1 Veiga, Oscar L.
A1 Gisladottir, Thordis
A1 Sandercock, Gavin
A1 Misigoj Durakovic, Marjeta
A1 Niessner, Claudia
A1 Riso, Eva Maria
A1 Popovic, Stevo
A1 Kuu, Saima
A1 Chinapaw, Mai
A1 Clavel, Iván
A1 Labayen, Idoia
A1 Dobosz, Janusz
A1 Colella, Dario
A1 Kriemler, Susi
A1 Salaj, Sanja
A1 Noriega, Maria Jose
A1 Bös, Klaus
A1 Sánchez López, Mairena
A1 Lakka, Timo A.
A1 Tabacchi, Garden
A1 Novak, Dario
A1 Ahrens, Wolfgang
A1 Wedderkopp, Niels
A1 Jurak, Gregor
A2 Didáctica de la Educación FísicaPlástica y Musical
K1 physical endurance
K1 physical fitness
K1 Body Mass Index
K1 Adolescent
K1 Child
AB 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.
PB BMJ
SN 0306-3674
YR 2023
FD 2023-01-09
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/29719
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/29719
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 12-nov-2026