Assessment of FITNESSGRAM? Body Composition Standards in 12 to 14 Year Old Youth Grant uri icon

abstract

  • The purpose of this study is to fill a gap in our contribution to the FITNESSGRAM? program. We are currently collecting aerobic fitness (15-m and 20-m PACER) and body composition data on 10 and II year old children with funding from the Cooper Institute and on 15 and 16 year old adolescents with funding from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. We previously published a study that examined PACER performance in 12 to 14 year old boys and girls, but did not collect a criterion measure of body composition on this cohort. The primary purpose of this study is to compare norm-referenced and criterion-referenced validity evidence for skinfolds, body mass index, and portable bioelectrical impedance analyzers compared to a criterion measure of percent body fat from the BOD POD. Thirty boys and 30 girls will be recruited to participate. Assessments of body composition will be taken via skinfolds, bioelectrical impedance with two portable analyzers (Omron and Tanita), body mass index, and air-displacement phethysmography (BOD POD). Norm-referenced validity of skinfolds, body mass index, and the portable bioelectrical impedance analyzers will be examined by comparison with BOD POD determined percent fat using regression analysis. The correlations and standard errors of estimate will be calculated. Criterion-referenced validity will be examined by comparing whether participants are classified similarly (i.e., either within the Healthy Fitness Zone or Needs Improvement) by the test (i.e., skinfold-predicted percent fat, body mass index, portable bioelectrical impedance- predicted percent fat) and by the criterion measure (i.e., BOD POD measured percent fat) using FITNESSGRAM? standards. The contingency coefficient (similar to a proportion of agreement) and phi coefficient win be calculated. In addition, sensitivity and specificity will be calculated to evaluate how the criterion-referenced standards performed in correctly classifying participants into the Healthy Fitness Zone or the Needs Improvement zone.

date/time interval

  • August 2007 - September 2009