Open AccessCan Physical Fitness Performance be Used to Predict the BMI Status of First-Year Students? A Case Study from a University I n Southern Taiwan
Author(s) -
Chieh-Lun Hsieh,
Lorna A. Espeso,
Cheng-Yen Sun,
Yung-Hsiang Hu
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of physical education, fitness and sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2457-0753
pISSN - 2277-5447
DOI - 10.34256/ijpefs2216
Subject(s) - cardiorespiratory fitness , physical fitness , logistic regression , test (biology) , psychology , physical therapy , medicine , demography , gerontology , paleontology , sociology , biology
This study aims to investigate the relationship between the physical fitness performance of college freshmen and the BMI body weight status (normal/ abnormal). We conducted case studies and obtained data on 7,160 participants aged 18 years from a university in southern Taiwan. All participants completed four physical fitness tests (seated forward bench, standing long jump, sit-ups, and cardiorespiratory endurance) and BMI assessments with the professional assistance of PE teachers. BMI is used to define the normal and abnormal state of body weight. Logistic regression analysis was used in this study. The results show that the four physical fitness tests currently implemented in college physical education can be used to predict whether the weight of the freshmen is normal. Cardiorespiratory endurance seems to be the most important feature for predicting the type of BMI (normal/abnormal), whether male or female. When the "cardiorespiratory endurance" of freshman students increases by a category, the probability of males belonging to the healthy weight category increases by 4.879 times, and the probability of females increases by 2.927 times. This study provides a new perspective for predicting whether the freshman's body weight is normal or not by using different types of college physical fitness test performance.