Abtract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between the sports habits, anthropometric profile and fitness of young adolescents in Galicia. To do this, the body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (% fat), flexibility (FLX), manual dynamometry (MDN), lower body explosive power (CMJ), trunk flexion strength (ABD), speed over 30 metres (T30) and cardiorespiratory endurance (CN) of 175 students doing compulsory secondary education (80 boys and 95 girls) aged from 13 to 17 was evaluated. The study was completed by a questionnaire about physical activity and sports habits. 20% of the boys and 30% of the girls said they were sedentary. The prevalence of being overweight and obesity stood at 16.7 and 19.6% for boys and girls respectively. Significant associations were found between gender and a) doing sport in the last two years (p=0.001), b) doing sport at federated clubs (p<0.001) and c) taking part in formal competitions (p<0.001), with higher values in the male sample. Only doing sport in federated clubs made it possible to establish groups with significant differences in physical fitness tests. The joint analysis of the data seems to indicate the need to do sport systematically and intensively to achieve significant development of motor skills.