The Association Between Health-related Physical Fitness and BMI Among Secondary School Students: A Cross-sectional Study
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Abstract
Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern, driven by poor diet and insufficient physical activity. Health-related fitness is linked to obesity, and Body Mass Index (BMI) is a key indicator of overweight and obesity. Overweight, obesity, and low physical fitness are interconnected issues; changes in one factor can influence the others. This study, which focuses on critical health-related fitness components, aims to explore the correlation between BMI and physical fitness. Materials and methods: A simple random sampling method was used to select 150 participants (62 boys and 88 girls) aged 13 to 16 from three schools in Shah Alam, Selangor. BMI, sit-ups, push-ups, modified push-ups, the YMCA Bench Step Test (YMCA 3MST), and sit and reach were used to measure all the variables. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographic data, while stepwise multiple regression was employed to carry out the inferential analysis. Results: The analysis of multiple regression shows cardiovascular fitness (CF) positively significantly (ß = .315, P < .05) and contributes 0.9 % (r=.315) toward variance changes in BMI score [F (1,149) = 16.451, P< .05]. Meanwhile, the combination of cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength (MS) contributes 13 % (r=.36), and regression model 2 demonstrates two components are the predictors of BMI [F (1,148) = 11.035, P< .05]. Conclusion: CF and MS should be emphasized in any intervention programs targeting obesity among adolescents. These two components are crucial for achieving an ideal BMI and reducing obesity in this age group.
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