Changes in Health-Related Physical Fitness over an Academic Year in 7th-12th Grade Private School Students

The decline in physical fitness and associated health risks during adolescence is of concern. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to monitor fitness levels over the course of an academic year in 7th-12th grade students. Students were tested at the beginning (August) and end (April) of the school year. Participants completed tests of health-related physical fitness included in the FITNESSGRAM test battery: PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run), back-saver sit-and-reach, modified pull-ups, skinfold analysis, and curl-ups. When separated by sex, a significant positive difference was found in boys for height, weight, laps completed in the PACER, and curl-ups. In girls, a significance positive difference was noted for height, weight, body fat percentage, curl-ups, and modified pull-ups (p < .05). When analyzed by grade !eve~ 7th

graders significantly improved in three components (PACER, body fat percentage, and curl-up) of health-related physical fitness, 8th graders in four components (PACER, body fat percentage, curlup, and sit-and-reach), 9th graders in three components (PACER, curl-up, and sit-and-reach), 10th graders in two components (curl-up and modified-pull-up), I Ith graders in no components, and 12th graders in no components. The only decrease in fitness noted across the six grades was a significant increase in body fat percentage for seniors. These results demonstrate that younger students are improving in a greater number of fitness components than older students across the academic year.