Not just child’s play – study provides benchmark for identifying those at risk
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Boys perform better than girls in speed, limb strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, whilst girls have the edge in balance and flexibility, according to a landmark study of European children which hopes to provide useful data in the fight against childhood obesity and other health issues.
Over 10,000 children aged between six and 11 took part in the research, which is the first to provide sex and age-specific physical reference standards for the age group in Europe.
The exercises included a cardiorespiratory fitness test, a ‘flamingo’ balance test, a handgrip strength test, a standing long jump, a 40m sprint and a sit-and-reach test for flexibility.
The results, published in the International Journal of Obesity, found that girls had better balance and flexibility than boys, whilst boys performed better in speed and agility, muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Overall, older children performed better than younger children, except for CRF in boys and flexibility in...
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