Abstract:
Health-related fitness (HRF) variables may reduce cardiovascular risk factors if detected early in youths. A comparison between two similar high-density cities may reveal more information on their health status.
PURPOSE: To compare HRF variables between youths in Singapore (SGP) and Taipei (TP).
METHODS: A total of 1559 youths from SGP (age: 13.49 ± 1.21 years, height: 159.76 ± 8.94 cm, weight: 51.91 ± 13.38 kg, Body Fat (BF) %: 21.51 ± 10.25 %) and 1620 youths from TP (age: 13.84 ± 0.91 years, height: 160.89 ± 7.86 cm, weight: 55.57 ± 13.35 kg, BF%: 23.29 ± 10.30 %) participated in this study. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and BF% was measured by bio-electric impedance analysis. Aerobic fitness, lower limb flexibility, arm strength, and abdominal endurance were tested using the 15m youth Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test, one-legged sit-and-reach (SRT), handgrip strength (HS) test, and 1-minute sit-up test (SUT) respectively.
RESULTS: Higher percentage of youths from TP were in the normal (TP: 54.88%, SGP: 46.89%) and overweight (TP: 18.15%, SGP: 12.70%) BMI range, while there was a higher percentage of underweight youths in SGP (40.41%) compared to TP (26.98%). Significant differences were found between SGP and TP for height (SGP: 159.76 ± 8.94 cm, TP: 160.89 ± 7.86 cm, p < 0.0005), weight (SGP: 51.91 ± 13.38 kg, TP: 55.57 ± 13.35 kg), BMI (SGP: 20.19 ± 4.21 kg•m-2, TP: 21.35 ± 4.28 kg•m-2, p < 0.0005), BF% (SGP: 21.51 ± 10.25 %, TP: 23.29 ± 10.30 %, p < 0.0005), SRT (SGP: 54.14 ± 10.15 cm, TP: 51.78 ± 11.29 cm, p < 0.0005), SUT (SGP: 38.94 ± 11.92, TP: 33.03 ± 9.71, p < 0.0005) and PACER (SGP: 40.93 ± 23.90 laps, TP: 37.75 ± 18.86 laps, p < 0.0005). No significant difference was found in HS between youths in both countries (SGP: 25.18 ± 7.77 kg, TP: 25.45 ± 7.33 kg, p = 0.32), with SGP having a lower obesity rate (SGP: 12.7%, TP: 18.15%).
CONCLUSIONS: Higher BMI and BF% values were found in TP as compared to SGP. While youths in both countries had similar arm strength, SGP youths had higher abdominal endurance, better flexibility and higher aerobically fitness as compared to TP youths. Youths from both countries have differences even with similar population density and should maintain their fitness health status through physical activities as this will help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future.
Copyright © 2019 by the American College of Sports Medicine
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