Body composition and physical fitness in Colombian high school students from Ibague

Introduction: Body composition and other components of physical fitness have proved to be important markers of health condition. Objective: To analyze body composition and physical fitness in Colombian students from public high schools of Ibague, as well as to study differences between sexes and age groups, and establish correlations between some of the variables. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 1,253 students (601 males; 652 females), with an age range of 10-20 years. The ALPHA-Fitness test (extended version) was applied. Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and fat percentage were assessed. Results: Differences between sexes were found in the variables studied, with greater BMI and fat percentage among females (20.6 kg/m(2) vs. 19.4 kg/m(2) and 26.1% vs. 16.8%, respectively); however, waist circumference was greater in males (69.6 cm vs. 67.9 cm), who also showed better fitness in the rest of the physical tests (p < 0.05). In both sexes, age was associated to increases in BMI (p < 0.05), and among females to fat percentage as well (p < 0.05); among males it was the opposite, as in them, age was inversely associated to fat percentage (p < 0.05). For the rest of the physical tests, age was positively associated to fitness both in men and women, except for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max). Correlations were found between some of the variables studied. Conclusions: Adiposity was significantly greater in females than in males (p < 0.05). Males showed better levels of aerobic, musculoskeletal and motor capacities.