Association of Physical Fitness, Screen Time, and Sleep Hygiene According to the Waist-to-Height Ratio in Children and Adolescents from the Extreme South of Chile
Carrasco-Marin, Fernanda
Universidad de Concepcion
Zapata-Lamana, Rafael
Universidad de Concepcion
Cigarroa, Igor
Universidad Santo Tomas
Reyes-Molina, Daniel
Universidad de Concepcion
Barcelo, Olga
European University of Madrid
Garcia-Perez-de-Sevilla, Guillermo
European University of Madrid
Garcia-Merino, Sonia
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Journal
Healthcare (Switzerland)
ISSN
2227-9032
Open Access
gold
Volume
10
Objective: To analyze the perception of physical fitness, screen time, and self-reported sleep hygiene in children and adolescents (CA) from the extreme south of Chile and its associations with waist-to-height ratio (WtHr). Material and methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 594 schoolchildren from 5th to 8th grade of primary education, belonging to municipal educational establishments in the Magallanes region, Chile. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed through the 20-m shuttle run test, muscle strength through handgrip and the standing broad jump test, physical fitness perception through the International Fitness Scale, and central obesity through the waist-to-height index. In addition, sleep hygiene and screen time were measured. Results: More than 92% of CA spent more than two hours a day watching or using screens. In addition, CA with excess central adiposity had a lower perception of physical fitness, and lower muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness compared to CA with normal values of adiposity. Conclusions: CA of the present study spent a high number of hours watching or using screens and had poor sleep quality. In addition, excessive central adiposity was associated with lower physical fitness.