Author/Authors :
Agha-Alinejad, Hamid Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences - Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University , Farzad, Babak Department of Exercise Physiology - Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Kharazmi University , Salari, Mansoureh Department of Exercise Physiology- Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science - Islamic Azad University - Central Tehran Branch, Tehran , Kamjoo, Somaieh Department of Exercise Physiology- Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science - Islamic Azad University - Central Tehran Branch, Tehran , Harbaugh, Bonnie Lee Departmentof Systems Leadership and Health Outcomes - College of Nursing - University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, USA , Peeri, Maghsoud
Abstract :
Background: Th e preschool years are a crucial time to study the determinants of childhood obesity, as it is when eating and
physical activity habits are becoming established. Th e purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of overweight and
obesity among preschoolers living in the capital of Iran and to determine relationships between overweight and obesity and
selected motor- and health-related fi tness parameters. Materials and Methods: Th is exploratory cross-sectional study was
conducted with 190 boys and 191 girls aged 5−6 years. Study children were selected from the kindergartens in Tehran, the capital
of Iran. All children underwent anthropometric, motor- and health-related fi tness tests. Height, body mass, body mass index
(BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and percentage of body fat (PBF)
were measured for anthropometric assessments. Sit-and-reach, modifi ed sit-ups, modifi ed pull-ups, the 4 × 9 m shuttle run, the
20 m sprint test and the 20 m multistage shuttle run test were measured for motor- and health-related fi tness tests. Overweight
and obesity prevalence was determined by the International Obesity Task Force, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
World Health Organization standard criteria. Results: International Obesity Task Force criteria indicate almost 12% (23/190) of
boys and 22.5% (43/191) of girls were overweight or obese with 4.73% (9/190) of boys and 10.99% (21/191) of girls in the obese
category. Signifi cant correlations were found between modifi ed pull-ups test and body mass, BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, PBF in
boys and modifi ed pull-ups and modifi ed sit-ups tests were signifi cantly correlated with body mass, BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR,
and PBF in girls. Compared to their counterparts, overweight and obese boys demonstrated inferior performance in modifi ed
pull-ups and predicted VO2max and overweight and obese girls demonstrated inferior performance in modifi ed pull-ups, modifi ed
sit-ups, 4 × 9 m agility shuttle run and predicted VO2max Conclusion: Th is study highlighted the relatively high prevalence of
overweight and obesity in both genders of preschoolers and found that overweight and obesity were associated with poor fi tness
performances. Th e fi ndings provided evidence to support the establishment of tailored physical fi tness intervention programs to
manage and prevent obesity in preschoolers.
Keywords :
childhood obesity , physical fi tness , preschool children , body mass index , Anthropometric measures
