Observatorio de obesidad, condición física y alfabetización física en educación primaria, secundaria y bachillerato

Resumen

Background: The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as a chronic disease, characterised by abnormal or excessive accumulation of body fat that can be harmful and pose a health risk. According to the WHO, childhood obesity has increased tenfold in the last 40 years, making it one of the biggest problems and challenges for public health in advanced societies. In the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, few studies have revealed specific data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity. In 2017, the Spanish National Health Survey (ENSE), determined that the percentage of overweight and obesity in Extremadura, was 11.88% and 10.38%, respectively. There are multiple factors that influence the development of overweight and obesity: genetic, neuroendocrine, energy expenditure-related or environmental. In relation to these, several studies have reported data on the high level of physical inactivity in children and young people, which is a challenge for society, as it entails both short- and long-term health risks. In this regard, physical fitness is estimated to be one of the most relevant markers of health and a significant predictor of mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, physical fitness assessment may be relevant during childhood and adolescence for early detection and prevention of different pathologies. Based on the abovementioned, the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL), developed in Canada, is one of the most significant initiatives related to childhood obesity. This assessment is one of the most closely aligned with the concept of child physical literacy, as it assesses daily activity, motivation and confidence, knowledge and understanding, and physical competence, and is a broader alternative to the mere assessment of physical fitness. Therefore, physical literacy assessment could help to explain why children do or do not practice physical activity, trying to understand how physical activity influences them, and thus being able to help them, to lead a more active life. María Mendoza Muñoz 26 Objectives: The main aims were to obtain updated information on the prevalence of overweight and obesity, physical fitness and physical literacy in children and young people from Extremadura and to describe the relationship of overweight and obesity with physical fitness, self-perceived physical fitness and physical literacy. Methods: Five cross-sectional studies were carried out with a total of 683 children and adolescents aged 8-18 years from five schools in Extremadura. To establish bodyweight categories, the criteria of COSI initiative and WHO growth standards were applied. The following parameters were assessed: 1) anthropometric and body composition measures (height, bodyweight, BMI, fat mass, fat mass percentage and fat-free mass); 2) physical fitness measures (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity Battery), in addition to the sit and reach test; 3) self-perceived physical fitness (International Fitness Scale) and 4) physical literacy measures (Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy Development, including its four domains: daily physical activity behaviour, physical competence, motivation and confidence, and knowledge and understanding). Results: Results: The main findings of this Doctoral Thesis showed a prevalence of overweight and obesity of 38.5% in school children and 59.1% in adolescents. Concerning physical fitness; 1) overweight and obese adolescents obtained lower levels of physical fitness than their normal weight peers, regardless of their gender; 2) body composition values in the normal range were associated with higher physical fitness in adolescents; 3) four regression equations were obtained that could be useful to estimate physical fitness values; and 4) the Visual Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (VAS PCFA) was shown to be a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of self-perceived physical fitness in adolescents, because it showed good reproducibility and a moderate direct correlation between participants' level of physical fitness and their self-perception of physical fitness. Regarding physical literacy; 1) the majority of María Mendoza Muñoz 27 Extremadura schoolchildren reached a sufficient level; 2) no significant gender differences were found in the physical literacy of Extremadura school children; 3) greater levels of physical literacy were obtained in the Extremadura population compared to their Canadian counterparts; 4) Extremadura school children were more physically literate than their Canadian counterparts; 5) Extremadura school children were more physically literate than their Canadian counterparts; 4) Extremadura not overweight school children obtained the greatest levels of physical literacy, while their overweight counterparts were at the lowest; and 5) body composition normal range values were associated with better total physical literacy and the physical literacy for every domain.