European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network

Francisco B Ortega; Bojan Leskošek; Rok Blagus; José J Gil-Cosano; Jarek Mäestu; Grant R Tomkinson; Jonatan R Ruiz; Evelin Mäestu; Gregor Starc; Ivana Milanovic; Tuija H Tammelin; Maroje Sorić; Claude Scheuer; Attilio Carraro; Mónika Kaj; Tamás Csányi; Luis B Sardinha; Matthieu Lenoir; Arunas Emeljanovas; Brigita Mieziene; Labros S Sidossis; Maret Pihu; Nicola Lovecchio; Kenn Konstabel; Konstantinos D Tambalis; Lovro Štefan; Clemens Drenowatz; Lukáš Rubín; Seryozha Gontarev; José Castro-Piñero; Jérémy Vanhelst; Brendan O'Keeffe; Oscar L Veiga; Thordis Gisladottir; Gavin Sandercock; Marjeta Misigoj-Durakovic; Claudia Niessner; Eva-Maria Riso; Stevo Popovic; Saima Kuu; Mai Chinapaw; Iván Clavel; Idoia Labayen; Janusz Dobosz; Dario Colella; Susi Kriemler; Sanja Salaj; Maria Jose Noriega; Klaus Bös; Niels Wedderkopp; FitBack, HELENA and IDEFICS consortia

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176

European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network

Francisco B Ortega^*
, Bojan Leskošek
, Rok Blagus
, José J Gil-Cosano
, Jarek Mäestu
, Grant R Tomkinson
, Jonatan R Ruiz
, Evelin Mäestu
, Gregor Starc
, Ivana Milanovic
, Tuija H Tammelin
, Maroje Sorić
, Claude Scheuer
, Attilio Carraro
, Mónika Kaj
, Tamás Csányi
, Luis B Sardinha
, Matthieu Lenoir
, Arunas Emeljanovas
, Brigita Mieziene

Labros S Sidossis, Maret Pihu, Nicola Lovecchio, Kenn Konstabel, Konstantinos D Tambalis, Lovro Štefan, Clemens Drenowatz, Lukáš Rubín, Seryozha Gontarev, José Castro-Piñero, Jérémy Vanhelst, Brendan O'Keeffe, Oscar L Veiga, Thordis Gisladottir, Gavin Sandercock, Marjeta Misigoj-Durakovic, Claudia Niessner, Eva-Maria Riso, Stevo Popovic, Saima Kuu, Mai Chinapaw, Iván Clavel, Idoia Labayen, Janusz Dobosz, Dario Colella, Susi Kriemler, Sanja Salaj, Maria Jose Noriega, Klaus Bös, Niels Wedderkopp, FitBack, HELENA and IDEFICS consortia

^*Corresponding author for this work

University of Granada
University of Ljubljana
University of South Australia
University of Belgrade
JAMK University of Applied Sciences
European Physical Education Association (EUPEA)
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Hungarian School Sport Federation
HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Lithuanian Sports University
Rutgers University
University of Bergamo
The National Institute for Health Development
Harokopio University
University of Zagreb
University of Education Upper Austria
Palacký University Olomouc
University of Cádiz
Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
University of Limerick
Autonoma University
University of Iceland
University of Essex
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
University of Montenegro
Tallinn University
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute
Galician Sport Foundation
Public University of Navarra
Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education In Warsaw
University of Salento
University of Zürich
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology University of Cantabria
University of Jyväskylä
Karolinska Institute
University of Primorska
Loyola University
Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA)
University of Luxembourg
Hungarian University of Sports Science
Eötvös Loránd University
University of Lisbon
University of Tartu
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Masaryk University
Technical University of Liberec
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University
University of A Coruña
Tartu University Clinic

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6-18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack); (2) to provide comparisons across European countries.

METHODS: This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness); handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength); and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method.

RESULTS: A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including individual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online (www.fitbackeurope.eu).

CONCLUSION: This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe.

Original language	English
Journal	British Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume	57
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	299-310
ISSN	0306-3674
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176
Publication status	Published - Mar 2023

Keywords

physical endurance
physical fitness
Body Mass Index
Reproducibility of Results
Humans
Male
Reference Values
Exercise Test/methods
Exercise
Adolescent
Female
Physical Fitness
Child
Hand Strength

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Ortega, F. B., Leskošek, B., Blagus, R., Gil-Cosano, J. J., Mäestu, J., Tomkinson, G. R., Ruiz, J. R., Mäestu, E., Starc, G., Milanovic, I., Tammelin, T. H., Sorić, M., Scheuer, C., Carraro, A., Kaj, M., Csányi, T., Sardinha, L. B., Lenoir, M., Emeljanovas, A., ... FitBack, HELENA and IDEFICS consortia (2023). European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(5), 299-310. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176

@article{73b2ec2000b142569de7244bd795444e,

title = "European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6-18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack); (2) to provide comparisons across European countries.METHODS: This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness); handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength); and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method.RESULTS: A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including individual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online (www.fitbackeurope.eu).CONCLUSION: This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe.",

keywords = "physical endurance, physical fitness, Body Mass Index, Reproducibility of Results, Humans, Male, Reference Values, Exercise Test/methods, Exercise, Adolescent, Female, Physical Fitness, Child, Hand Strength",

author = "Ortega, \{Francisco B\} and Bojan Lesko{\v s}ek and Rok Blagus and Gil-Cosano, \{Jos{\'e} J\} and Jarek M{\"a}estu and Tomkinson, \{Grant R\} and Ruiz, \{Jonatan R\} and Evelin M{\"a}estu and Gregor Starc and Ivana Milanovic and Tammelin, \{Tuija H\} and Maroje Sori{\'c} and Claude Scheuer and Attilio Carraro and M{\'o}nika Kaj and Tam{\'a}s Cs{\'a}nyi and Sardinha, \{Luis B\} and Matthieu Lenoir and Arunas Emeljanovas and Brigita Mieziene and Sidossis, \{Labros S\} and Maret Pihu and Nicola Lovecchio and Kenn Konstabel and Tambalis, \{Konstantinos D\} and Lovro {\v S}tefan and Clemens Drenowatz and Luk{\'a}{\v s} Rub{\'i}n and Seryozha Gontarev and Jos{\'e} Castro-Pi{\~n}ero and J{\'e}r{\'e}my Vanhelst and Brendan O'Keeffe and Veiga, \{Oscar L\} and Thordis Gisladottir and Gavin Sandercock and Marjeta Misigoj-Durakovic and Claudia Niessner and Eva-Maria Riso and Stevo Popovic and Saima Kuu and Mai Chinapaw and Iv{\'a}n Clavel and Idoia Labayen and Janusz Dobosz and Dario Colella and Susi Kriemler and Sanja Salaj and Noriega, \{Maria Jose\} and Klaus B{\"o}s and Niels Wedderkopp and \{FitBack, HELENA and IDEFICS consortia\}",

note = "{\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.",

year = "2023",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176",

language = "English",

volume = "57",

pages = "299--310",

journal = "British Journal of Sports Medicine",

issn = "0306-3674",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

number = "5",

}

Ortega, FB, Leskošek, B, Blagus, R, Gil-Cosano, JJ, Mäestu, J, Tomkinson, GR, Ruiz, JR, Mäestu, E, Starc, G, Milanovic, I, Tammelin, TH, Sorić, M, Scheuer, C, Carraro, A, Kaj, M, Csányi, T, Sardinha, LB, Lenoir, M, Emeljanovas, A, Mieziene, B, Sidossis, LS, Pihu, M, Lovecchio, N, Konstabel, K, Tambalis, KD, Štefan, L, Drenowatz, C, Rubín, L, Gontarev, S, Castro-Piñero, J, Vanhelst, J, O'Keeffe, B, Veiga, OL, Gisladottir, T, Sandercock, G, Misigoj-Durakovic, M, Niessner, C, Riso, E-M, Popovic, S, Kuu, S, Chinapaw, M, Clavel, I, Labayen, I, Dobosz, J, Colella, D, Kriemler, S, Salaj, S, Noriega, MJ, Bös, K, Wedderkopp, N & FitBack, HELENA and IDEFICS consortia 2023, 'European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network', British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 299-310. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176

European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network. / Ortega, Francisco B; Leskošek, Bojan; Blagus, Rok et al.
In: British Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 57, No. 5, 03.2023, p. 299-310.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - European fitness landscape for children and adolescents

T2 - updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network

AU - Ortega, Francisco B

AU - Leskošek, Bojan

AU - Blagus, Rok

AU - Gil-Cosano, José J

AU - Mäestu, Jarek

AU - Tomkinson, Grant R

AU - Ruiz, Jonatan R

AU - Mäestu, Evelin

AU - Starc, Gregor

AU - Milanovic, Ivana

AU - Tammelin, Tuija H

AU - Sorić, Maroje

AU - Scheuer, Claude

AU - Carraro, Attilio

AU - Kaj, Mónika

AU - Csányi, Tamás

AU - Sardinha, Luis B

AU - Lenoir, Matthieu

AU - Emeljanovas, Arunas

AU - Mieziene, Brigita

AU - Sidossis, Labros S

AU - Pihu, Maret

AU - Lovecchio, Nicola

AU - Konstabel, Kenn

AU - Tambalis, Konstantinos D

AU - Štefan, Lovro

AU - Drenowatz, Clemens

AU - Rubín, Lukáš

AU - Gontarev, Seryozha

AU - Castro-Piñero, José

AU - Vanhelst, Jérémy

AU - O'Keeffe, Brendan

AU - Veiga, Oscar L

AU - Gisladottir, Thordis

AU - Sandercock, Gavin

AU - Misigoj-Durakovic, Marjeta

AU - Niessner, Claudia

AU - Riso, Eva-Maria

AU - Popovic, Stevo

AU - Kuu, Saima

AU - Chinapaw, Mai

AU - Clavel, Iván

AU - Labayen, Idoia

AU - Dobosz, Janusz

AU - Colella, Dario

AU - Kriemler, Susi

AU - Salaj, Sanja

AU - Noriega, Maria Jose

AU - Bös, Klaus

AU - Wedderkopp, Niels

AU - FitBack, HELENA and IDEFICS consortia

PY - 2023/3

Y1 - 2023/3

N2 - OBJECTIVES: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6-18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack); (2) to provide comparisons across European countries.METHODS: This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness); handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength); and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method.RESULTS: A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including individual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online (www.fitbackeurope.eu).CONCLUSION: This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe.

AB - OBJECTIVES: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6-18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack); (2) to provide comparisons across European countries.METHODS: This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness); handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength); and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method.RESULTS: A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including individual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online (www.fitbackeurope.eu).CONCLUSION: This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe.

KW - physical endurance

KW - physical fitness

KW - Body Mass Index

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Reference Values

KW - Exercise Test/methods

KW - Exercise

KW - Adolescent

KW - Female

KW - Physical Fitness

KW - Child

KW - Hand Strength

U2 - 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176

DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36623866

SN - 0306-3674

VL - 57

SP - 299

EP - 310

JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine

IS - 5

ER -

Ortega FB, Leskošek B, Blagus R, Gil-Cosano JJ, Mäestu J, Tomkinson GR et al. European fitness landscape for children and adolescents: updated reference values, fitness maps and country rankings based on nearly 8 million test results from 34 countries gathered by the FitBack network. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023 Mar;57(5):299-310. Epub 2023 Jan 9. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106176