Physical fitness disparities among New York City public school youth using standardized methods, 2006-2017

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227185
• Publication Date: 2020-04-09T17:39:41Z
• Authors: Kevin J. Konty; Sophia E. Day; Michael Larkin; Hannah R. Thompson; Emily M. D’Agostino
• Keywords: Proxy (statistics); Cardiovascular fitness; Multi-stage fitness test

Standardized physical fitness monitoring provides a more accurate proxy for youth health when compared with activity. Little is known about the utilization of broad-scale individual-level testing to explore disparities. We examined longitudinal trends in population-level 4th-12th grade New York City during 2006/7-2016/17 (average n = 510,293 per year). Analyses were performed 2019. The primary outcome was whether or not achieved sex-/age-specific performance levels (called Healthy Fitness Zone) on aerobic capacity, muscular strength and endurance tests using NYC FITNESSGRAM. Cooper Institute's most recent Zone criteria applied all years. Prevalence estimates weighted, accounted school clustering, adjusted student-level sociodemographics, run by sociodemographic subgroups year. overall prevalence meeting 3 Zones increased from 15.5% (95%CI: 13.9%-17.0%) 2006/7 23.3% 22.2%-24.4%) 2016/17 students grades 4-12. student groups over time, although Hispanic non-Hispanic black girls consistently had lowest as other race/sex subgroups. Also, 9th-12th graders lower 4th-8th graders. Given forecasted sharp increases cardiovascular disease prevalence, routine surveillance standardized, criterion referenced methods can identify important disparities inform interventions.