MEDICINA SPORTIVA - Journal of Romanian Sports Medicine Society

Assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness among school-aged adolescents in selected schools in a Nigerian city

Low level of cardiorespiratory fitness has been shown to increase the risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases in adults and adolescents, and has been proven to result in early death especially in Nigeria. The study assessed cardiorespiratory fitness among school-aged adolescents and determine the relationship among the various anthropometric variables. The cross-sectional survey recruited 236 apparently healthy participants ranging from 13 to 18 years purposively from public and private secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Selected anthropometric variables of weight, height, waist and hip circumference of the participants were measured using standard procedures. Six Minutes Walk Test (SMWT) was conducted to assess cardiorespiratory fitness by using maximal oxygen uptake in VO_2max for each participant. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at <0.05. The result shows that the mean value of the participants’ age was 15.50+ 1.5 years, the mean body mass index was 19.83±2.79 kg/m2 and the mean Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) was 31.85±4.26 mLkg^-1.min^-1. Fitness. The mean CRF for males and females of 13 years old was 31.09±4.54 mLkg^-1.min^-1, and 32.97±4.16 mLkg^-1.min^-1, respectively and that of 18 years old was 33.51±3.98 mLkg^-1.min^-1 and 32.63±0.73 mLkg^-1.min^-1, respectively. The male cardiorespiratory fitness was found significantly higher (t=3.32, p<0.001) compare to the female values. Cardiorespiratory fitness showed a significant correlation with ages (r=0.21, p=0.000) and height (r=0.16, p=0.01). In conclusion, the cardiorespiratory fitness of adolescent in the study was of lower value compared to the standard, age wise and male cardiorespiratory fitness was more than that of female.