Fitnes parametri i morfološke karakteristike gojazne dece

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease, which is manifested by excessive fat accumulation in the body and weight gain. Increased body weight in obese children is associated with a delay in both motor development and the acquisition of motor habits, but also with a range of diseases, the most important of which are chronic non-communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the trend of changes in fitness parameters and in the morphological characteristics of obese children aged from seven to ten and to determine the relationship of fitness parameters and morphological characteristics of obese children of the specified age. The sample consisted of 553 examinees, obese boys, and girls, aged from 7 to 10. The assessment of the fitness parameters was determined by tests for cardiorespiratory fitness (RHR, HR in exercise and VO₂max), muscular fitness (bend forward-bend backward-throw test and Abalakov test), speed (20 m running, for running speed estimation and hand tapping for estimation of frequency of movements) and flexibility (preclination on the bench). The estimation of morphological characteristics was determined by measures of longitudinal dimensionality (body height, leg length, arm length), measures of transversal dimensionality (shoulder width, pelvic width and hip width), measures of circular dimensionality (volume of the chest, volume of the upper arm, volume of the thigh) and body size and subcutaneous fatty tissue (skinfold of the upper arm, skinfold of the back, skinfold of the abdomen). The basic parameters of descriptive statistics are calculated for all variables. Differences between groups were determined by ANOVA and the LSD Post Hoc test. The relationships between fitness parameters and morphological characteristics were determined through the cross-correlation matrix and canonical correlational analysis. Trends of change were determined on the basis of average values, while their statistical significance was determined by ANOVA. By analyzing the results of descriptive statistics of fitness parameters and morphological characteristics, it can be generally concluded that there is a deviation from norms that apply to normally nourished children. The trend of changes in RHR and HR in exercise is discontinuous, while the trend of changes in VO₂max is continuous and shows a decrease. Trends in muscular fitness, speed and flexibility are continuous, with obesity being noted as aggravating factor in activities requiring the dislocation of the whole body in space. Further analysis of the results concludes that the trend of changes in the morphological characteristics of obese boys and girls is positive and continuous and that its changes follow the general growth and development curves of children. By analyzing the relations of fitness parameters and morphological characteristics it can be concluded that there is a statistically significant connection between them, except at the age of 10.