Exploring Self-Reported Physical Activity Levels and Physical Fitness in Italian Children: A Mediation and Moderation...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Skill-related physical fitness is vital for child health.
• Limited data exists on skill-related physical fitness and physical activity in Southern Italy.
• This study investigates the interplay between BMI, physical activity, and fitness in this region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the mediating and moderating effects of Physical Activity Level (PAL) on the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and skill-related physical fitness in Southern Italian schoolchildren.
• To identify differences in physical fitness and PAL based on gender and BMI categories.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 387 students (ages 12.2-12.3 years) from the Apulia Region.
• Assessed skill-related physical fitness using standing long jump, medicine ball throw, and shuttle run tests.
• Measured daily physical activity using self-report (PAL) and analyzed data using factorial ANOVA and mediation/moderation models.

Main Results:

• Normal-weight children exhibited superior physical fitness and PAL compared to overweight/obese peers.
• Higher PAL significantly improved standing long jump performance and shuttle run times.
• PAL showed a modest association with medicine ball throw performance.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity plays a significant role in enhancing skill-related physical fitness in children.
• Findings highlight the need for interventions promoting physical activity to improve child health outcomes.
• Further research into sociocultural determinants of physical activity is recommended to inform public health policies.