Influence of nutritional status on physical fitness among primary and middle school students in Henan Province

Objective To understand the nutritional status among primary and middle school students in Henan Province,and to analyze the influence of nutritional status on physical fitness.Methods Based on data from National School Student Physical Fitness and Health Survey in 2014,all the students from Henan Province were classified into three groups according to body mass index (BMI) percentile criteria for school-age students of Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) and malnutritional criteria for Chinese school-age children.Six physical fitness indices were calculated and converted into Z-score,respectively.The sum of the six indices were calculated as Physical Fitness Index(PFI).Results There were 2 621(6.0%) students in malnutrition and 8 549(19.6%) in overweight and obese.Malnutrition,overweight and obese prevalence was significantly higher in boys(P<0.05).Overweight and obese children had better lung capacity and grip strength in each age group than normal BMI and malnutrition group.In boys,performance of 50 m run,standing long jump,800 and 1 600 m run and sit and reach was highest in normal BMI group,followed with overweight and malnutrition group,while in girls overweight and obese group was lowest than the other two groups.PFI was better in normal weight group.After controlling for age,nutritional status showed a negative correlation with physical fitness index.Conclusion Comorbidity of malnutrition with overweight and obese is becoming a major health concern among students in Henan Province,which could exert adverse effects on physical fitness.