Comparison of physiological indices with body fat percentage among adolescents in Singapore

• Main Author: Sng, Yi Qian.
• Other Authors: Govindasamy Balasekaran
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52156
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Background: Singapore has been implementing exercise interventions to reduce body fat percentages in school (Soon et al., 2008; Goh & Pang, 2012). Studies has shown that physical fitness has an inverse relationship with body fat percentage (Wedderkopp et al., 2003). Purpose: To compare physiological indices to body fat percentage among adolescents in Singapore Hypothesis: Cardiorespiratory endurance has the highest correlation to body fat percentage. Methods: 126 subjects, aged 13-17 (mean: 14.56 ± 0.77) comprising 66 males and 60 females were volunteered by the schools. Mean height = 161.17cm ± 8.34 and mean weight = 52.56kg ± 12.67. Calculated mean BMI = 20.06 ± 3.79. Their flexibility (sit and reach test) , muscular strength (hand grip test), muscular endurance (sit-up test) and cardiorespiratory endurance (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test) were tested and compared with body fat percentage (BIA). Results: Results indicated a negative correlation between cardiorespiratory endurance and body fat percentage (r=-.51; males r=-.41, females r= -.16) and muscular endurance and body fat percentage (r=-.35; males r=-.17, females r=-.01). Cardiorespiratory endurance has the highest correlation with body far percentage followed by muscular endurance Conclusion: Results of the study indicated that cardiovascular endurance and muscular endurance may have a positive effect on lowering body fat percentages among adolescents in schools. Thus, by devising a training programme that focuses on these physiological indices, body fat percentage may be reduced and create overall positive health benefits for students in Singapore schools Keywords: body fat, physical fitness, adolescents, Singapore