Summaries of FITNESSGRAM Research

Overview of FITNESSGRAM

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A key research priority in our lab is to enhance the utility and utilization of the FITNESSGRAM youth fitness program. FITNESSGRAM is a youth fitness and physical activity assessment system developed to enhance school physical education programming. Dr. Welk serves as the Scientific Director of the FITNESSGRAM program and conducts research focused on improving the science and practice of FITNESSGRAM use in schools. Members of the lab contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the prominent NFL PLAY 60 FitnessGram Partnership Project. Local lines of participatory research are also coordinated through the Iowa FitnessGram Initiative. See links for additional details. For information about FITNESSGRAM in general visit www.fitnessgram.net

Research Papers and Supplements on FITNESSGRAM

Development of FITNESSGRAM Standards

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Field Evaluation of the New
FITNESSGRAM® Criterion-Referenced Standards
This study examined differences in the achievement of standards and classifıcation agreement between the old and new standards. The large data set provided a useful sample to examine the impact of the new fıtness standards on the documentation of youth fıtness levels in schools. The new standards address a number of measurement issues with the old standards and provide a more appropriate way to evaluate levels of health-related fitness in youth.
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Measurement Agreement Between Estimates of Aerobic Fitness in Youth: The Impact of Body Mass Index
This study examined the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the agreement between aerobic capacity estimates from different Progressive Aerobic
Cardiorespiratory Endurance Run (PACER) equations and the Mile Run Test. The results support the inclusion of BMI in prediction equations used to estimate aerobic capacity from the PACER.

Texas Youth Fitness Study

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Distribution of Health-Related Physical Fitness in Texas Youth: A Demographic and Geographic Analysis. This study examined demographic and geographic variability in aggregated school-level data on the percentage of students achieving the FITNESSGRAM® Healthy Fitness ZonesTM (HFZ). The results revealed age-related differences in the percentage of youth who achieved the HFZ standard for cardiovascular fitness (elementary school: 70%; middle school: 46%; high school: 34%). School-level attainment of fitness was consistently higher in schools categorized as low diversity and high socioeconomic status. Clear spatial patterns in fitness achievement were also evident when data were analyzed at the region and county level using geodemographic information system software.

The Association of Health-Related Fitness With Indicators of Academic Performance in Texas Schools This study examined the associations between indicators of health-related physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness and body mass index) and academic performance (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills). Mixed-model regression analyses revealed significant positive associations between fitness and both academic achievement and school attendance. Significant negative associations were observed with school delinquency. This study is unique in the scope (state level data) and the fact that we systematically controlled for possible confounding variables.
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Concurrent and Criterion-Referenced
Validity of Trunk Muscular Fitness Tests in School-Aged Children
This study examined the concurrent and criterion-referenced validity of field tests of low back and core muscular endurance in school-aged children. The results suggested that assessment of specific low back muscular function can be easily evaluated using tests of overall core muscular endurance as an alternative to the FG-TE in physical education settings.