Impact of age, sex, body constitution, and the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical fitness of 38,084 German primary school children

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 2, 2025

Language: Английский

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Child health and development in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic: are there social inequalities?

European Journal of Pediatrics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 182(3), P. 1173 - 1181

Published: Jan. 6, 2023

COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and closures have influenced all children's health development (HAD). We aimed to examine whether this differs by social circumstances. hypothesised that socially disadvantaged children experienced more pronounced deterioration in their HAD compared with better-off children. In our trend study, we included five cohorts of school enrolment medical screening (school entrance 2018-2022) the city Dusseldorf, Germany. To compensate for selection bias due limited number examinations months, chose first 800 each cohort. computed predicted prevalences overweight, coordination language problems as indicators HAD. Neighbourhood deprivation, single-parent families non-German nationality were used disadvantage. All groups a Its magnitude is comparable between different For instance, 2018 2021, prevalence overweight increased from 19.2 24.2% deprived neighbourhoods, 8.1 16.5% well-off neighbourhoods. Prevalence (prepositions) 49.9 72.1% among children, 14.4 39.1% German Conclusion: Results only partly confirmed hypothesis. However, since pre-pandemic already higher, further - regardless its has led particularly poor situation. those should be priorities prevention. Generally, important settings child such kindergartens or leisure facilities remain open future pandemics. What known: • The had negative impact on general development. Before pandemic, inequalities common phenomenon. new: Children over course pandemic. Over neighbourhoods demonstrated high overweight. Language are prevalent

Language: Английский

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Covid Pandemic Effects on the Physical Fitness of Primary School Children: Results of the German EMOTIKON Project

Sports Medicine - Open, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: Aug. 14, 2023

In spring of 2020, the Sars-CoV-2 incidence rate increased rapidly in Germany and around world. Throughout next 2 years, schools were temporarily closed social distancing measures put place to slow spread Covid-19 virus. Did these restrictions temporary school lockdowns affect children's physical fitness? The EMOTIKON project annually tests fitness all third-graders Federal State Brandenburg, Germany. assess cardiorespiratory endurance (6-min-run test), coordination (star-run speed (20-m sprint lower (powerLOW, standing long jump upper (powerUP, ball-push test) limbs muscle power, static balance (one-legged stance test with eyes closed). A total 125,893 children tested falls from 2016 2022. Primary analyses focused on 98,510 keyage (i.e., enrollment according legal key date, aged 8 9 years) 515 schools. Secondary included 27,383 older-than-keyage OTK, delayed or repetition a grade, 10 years), who have been shown exhibit than expected for their age. Linear mixed models fitted pre-pandemic quadratic secular trends, took into account differences between schools.Third-graders exhibited endurance, coordination, powerUP Covid pandemic cohorts (2020-2022) compared (2016-2019). Children's powerLOW higher cohorts. From 2020 2021, further declined. Evidence some post-pandemic catch-up was restricted powerUP. Cohen's |ds| comparisons 2020-2022 2016-2019 ranged 0.02 0.15 coordination. Within cohorts, developmental losses ranging approximately 1 month 5 months endurance. For balance, positive effects translate gains 7 months, respectively. Pre-pandemic trends may observed especially powerLOW, balance. delays OTK balance.The associated declines several components German third-graders. Pandemic are still visible Health-related interventions should specifically target those that negatively affected by (cardiorespiratory speed).

Language: Английский

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood obesity rates, by Health Board area, in Wales, UK

Journal of Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 46(2), P. 223 - 229

Published: Feb. 6, 2024

The aim of this study was to examine the possible impact coronavirus pandemic on rates children living with obesity and severe obesity, by Health Board area in Wales.

Language: Английский

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Physical fitness in Austrian elementary school children prior to and post-COVID-19

AIMS Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(2), P. 480 - 495

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

With the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented policies that included movement restrictions, social distancing and school closures in order to control spread virus. Even though these actions may have been necessary save lives, there some unintended consequences could affect future public health.The present study uses data from more than 24,500 Austrian elementary children (51.2% male) participated a state-wide fitness evaluation program, which was initiated 2016/17 year. In addition body weight height, on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular power, speed, agility, flexibility object were collected three cohorts prior implementation restrictions (school years: 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19) one cohort 2022, after majority had lifted.Body mass index percentiles significantly higher post-COVID-19 (p < 0.01). Further, agility lower compared years preceding ≤ 0.01), while absolute strength year 2022 0.01).Given detrimental effects physical children, additional efforts are include versatile opportunities for activity promotion modify observed negative health trajectories ensure health.

Language: Английский

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Back to ‘normal’? BMI, physical fitness and health-related quality of life of children from North East England before, during and after the COVID-19 lockdowns

Journal of Sports Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 42(8), P. 688 - 700

Published: April 17, 2024

We assessed whether changes in children's body mass index (BMI), physical fitness and health-related quality of life observed post-2020 United Kingdom COVID-19 lockdown remained 12 18 months later. Twenty-metre shuttle run test (20mSRT), handgrip strength, standing broad jump, sit-and-reach, height, mass, (Kidscreen27 questionnaire) were measured 90 children (8–9 years) during October 2019 ("T0"), November 2020 ("T1"), 2021 ("T2") June 2022 ("T3"). Mixed-effects models showed age- sex-normalised BMI increased from T0 (mean: 0.71) to T1 (0.97), remaining elevated at T2 (0.95) T3 (0.89). Decreases 20mSRT performance (22.0) (19.3), then (23.5) (28.3). Standing jump strength over time. The proportion with overweight/obesity (32%) (48%). Health-related decreased for "Physical Wellbeing" yet "Autonomy & Parents". Our findings highlight that lockdowns may have had lasting implications health, the urgent need reduce overweight obesity North East England. Improving health behaviours maximise long-term outcomes build resilience future emergencies disruptions is also paramount.

Language: Английский

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Changes in Physical Fitness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in German Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(15), P. 9504 - 9504

Published: Aug. 2, 2022

With the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, each country has developed strategies to try control virus. The restrictions and subsequent consequences also limited possibilities structures for being physically active. Therefore, aim this study was examine changes physical fitness a cohort that investigated over an extended period. Physical testing conducted with IPPTP-R primary school from small rural community annually since 2012. Mean values test items were calculated cohort. We ANCOVA differences between cohorts PreCOVID 2020 as first year pandemic, 2021 second pandemic. Overall, no evidence negative effect on children ages 7 9 years found. In strength tests, performances increased when comparing (Push-Ups: p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.032; 0.017, 0.006). No change found endurance (6-min Run: 0.341, 0.001; 0.267, 0.001. maintained despite limitations through environmental circumstances. Considering this, it is positive example how adequate long-term efforts promoting make impact active friendly environment helps overcome pandemics limiting

Language: Английский

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Development of Motor Skills of German 5- to 6-Year-Old Children

Behavioral Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 353 - 353

Published: March 13, 2025

The closure of educational institutions, playgrounds, and sports facilities has had a significant impact on children’s levels physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, there are only few studies available that address consequences these pandemic-related restrictions development motor skills in younger children. aim present study was to gain insights into pandemic fine gross by comparing cohorts German preschoolers. For this purpose, data from annual (years 2015 2018 2020 2024) routine examinations (n = 1426; mean age: 5.46 ± 0.29 years) conducted child daycare centers SportService des Landessportbund Brandenburg e.V. [Federal Sports Association Brandenburg, Germany] were subjected secondary analysis. While no effects overall performance as measured MOT 4–6, standardized test, found for groups preschoolers, more detailed analysis revealed children differed with respect certain domains, i.e., jumping skills. findings relevant designing targeted remedial measures affected restrictions.

Language: Английский

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Association of School Social Status with COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Changes and Post-Pandemic Rebounds of Children’s Physical Fitness

Sports Medicine - Open, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: April 23, 2025

Abstract Background In a recent study, we examined Covid-19 pandemic effects on the physical fitness of German third-graders tested between 2016 and 2022. The present report includes new data from 2023 to examine whether there were post-pandemic rebounds in negatively affected components, potential rebound differed by school social status. Methods EMOTIKON project annually tests all Federal State Brandenburg, Germany. Tests assess cardiorespiratory endurance (6-min-run), coordination (star-run), speed (20-m linear sprint), lower (powerLOW, standing long jump), upper (powerUP, ball-push test) limbs muscle power, static balance (one-legged-stance test). A total 108,308 aged 8 9.2 years 444 schools falls 2023. Linear mixed models, specified for regression discontinuity design with random factors child school, estimated first day year 2020/21 (i.e., critical date), as well cohort trends before after onset. Results Higher status was associated better endurance, coordination, speed, powerLOW. At date, small negative powerUP. Pandemic larger higher Coordination powerUP characterized rebound, slightly There no evidence speed. Conclusions Absence task-specific may indicate long-term consequences pandemic-related movement restrictions. Lower powerLOW low need improved access sports opportunities these schools.

Language: Английский

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Actual and Perceived Motor Competence in Chilean Schoolchildren before and after COVID-19 Lockdowns: A Cohort Comparison

Behavioral Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(4), P. 306 - 306

Published: April 4, 2023

(1) Background: the measures applied in Chile to reduce COVID-19 infections have been very strict, mainly for children who experienced lockdowns and school closures almost two years. Emerging evidence indicates that had several negative effects on children; therefore, present study seeks analyze secular of Chilean students' actual motor competence (AMC) perceived (PMC). (2) Methods: using a sequential cohort design, data from 523 fifth-grade students at nine elementary schools (46.8% girls, age M = 11.11, SD 0.66) were assessed 2018-19 (pre-lockdown) (n 265) 2022 (post-lockdown) 258). (3) Results: domain object control (AMC PMC), no significant differences found p 0.559; PMC 0.682). In self-movement AMC PMC, presented small effect size 0.044, ηp2 0.01; 0.001, 0.03). (4) Conclusions: although encountered not drastic, skills tended be greatly affected by resulting pandemic. These findings broaden information consequences pandemic aspects related an active healthy life.

Language: Английский

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