The Relation between Aerobic Fitness, Muscular Fitness, and Obesity in Children from Three Countries at Different Stages of the Physical Activity Transition
Table 1
Descriptive statistics by sex and country.
Canada
Mexico
Kenya
Country differences*
Boys
N
374
98
86
Age, y (95% CI)
10.9 (10.8, 11.0)
11.1 (11.0, 11.3)
11.0 (10.9, 11.2)
None
BMI, kg/m2 (95% CI)
19.2 (18.8, 19.6)
19.8 (19.0, 20.5)
16.2 (15.7, 16.7)
M > K, C > K
Underweight (%)
5.9
6.1
44.4
Normal weight (%)
67.8
54.1
52.8
Overweight (%)
17.7
30.6
1.9
Obese (%)
8.6
9.2
0.9
Height, cm (95% CI)
145.8 (144.8, 146.8)
146.8 (145.2, 148.5)
142.0 (140.4, 143.6)
M > K, C > K
Waist circumference, cm (95% CI)
66.2 (65.1, 67.3)
70.0 (67.8, 72.3)
59.6 (58.5, 60.8)
C < M, M > K, C > K
Triceps skinfold, mm (95% CI)
13.1 (12.5–13.6)
13.3 (12.0–14.5)
7.8 (7.0, 8.6)
M > K, C > K
Grip strength, kg (95% CI)
35.0 (33.9, 36.0)
36.6 (34.7, 38.5)
34.7 (32.0, 37.3)
None
, mL/kg/min (95% CI)
41.3 (40.1, 42.7)
47.1 (46.1, 48.1)
50.2 (49.0, 51.4)
C < M, M < K, C < K
Girls
N
362
95
93
Age, y (95% CI)
10.9 (10.8, 11.0)
10.8 (10.7, 11.0)
11.0 (10.8, 11.2)
None
BMI, kg/m2 (95% CI)
18.8 (18.4, 19.1)
19.2 (18.3, 20.1)
16.8 (16.2, 17.4)
M > K, C > K
Underweight (%)
6.9
15.8
37.9
Normal weight (%)
68.2
52.6
53.7
Overweight (%)
17.7
23.2
5.6
Obese (%)
7.2
8.4
2.8
Height, cm (95% CI)
146.1 (145.1, 147.2)
145.6 (143.9, 147.4)
143.6 (142.0, 145.3)
None
Waist circumference, cm (95% CI)
64.7 (63.7, 65.7)
67.1 (64.8, 69.4)
60.4 (58.8, 62.0)
M > K, C > K
Triceps skinfold, mm (95% CI)
13.7 (13.2, 14.2)
13.6 (12.5, 14.7)
10.9 (9.7, 12.1)
M > K, C > K
Grip strength, kg (95% CI)
32.9 (31.9, 33.9)
32.3 (31.6, 34.9)
31.1 (28.7, 33.5)
None
, mL/kg/min (95% CI)
38.3 (37.1, 39.5)
46.4 (45.5, 47.2)
46.7 (45.7, 47.8)
C < M, C < K
Country differences identified by nonoverlapping confidence intervals; C: Canada, M: Mexico, and K: Kenya.
