Longitudinal differences and trends in body fat and running endurance in Hungarian primary schoolboys

Long-range repeated-measure sample differences in body dimensions, body composition and physical performance are considered accurately describing the changes in a population's life standards and lifestyle. The aim of our study was to analyse such changes in longitudinal studies repeated after a 15-year interval. Two six-monthly repeated data collections (1987-1991 and 2002-2006, respectively n = 136 and n = 147, respectively) were carried out in non-athletic boys aged between 6.51 and 11.00 decimal years in the same schools of the city of Gyor, Hungary. The means of height, body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage and running distance in the Cooper-Test were compared as well as the slopes of the changes. The children of the second series of studies were significantly taller and heavier, had more depot fat and showed poorer cardio-respiratory endurance than their peers 15 years before. The increases with age in weight, BMI and depot fat were steeper in the second series. The significant differences that developed in body weight, fat content and physical performance between the two samples during these 15 years are regarded as an indirect evidence for how severely the average physical condition had declined, respectively how the health risks of the schoolchildren of the respective middle socio-economic strata had increased. Recent adverse changes in lifestyle are too strong, so that the presently obligatory physical education classes at school (four times in 10 days, 45 minutes per class) cannot be expected to provide any solution. Daily 90 minutes blocks of exercise only may promise some improvement.