ASSESSMENT OF BODY MASS INDEX AND HEALTH RELATED FITNESS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN.

The present study on body mass index and health related physical fitness of school children was undertaken with the view of portraying the health related fitness profile of school children in Kannur district of Kerala. Data on body mass index and health related fitness according to ICHPER.SD Asia Youth Health Related Fitness test was collected from 1000 school children from different schools of Kannur district, Kerala. The study had sub samples of 250 boys and 250 girls from schools belonging to urban areas; and 250 boys and 250 girls belonging to rural areas. The data on BMI and health related fitness variables of the study were comparable to the data of Indian counterparts shown in previous studies. The analysis of data revealed that girls had significantly greater BMI as compared to boys. However, boys scored significantly better than girls on one mile run, sit ups and modified pull ups. Girls were significantly better than boys in case of flexibility performance in the sit and reach test. In case of sum of skinfolds, girls had significantly greater skinfold measurements as compared to boys. Rural sample of school children scored significantly better than urban school children in modified pull ups. In case of sum of skinfolds, urban school children had greater skinfold measurements as compared to their rural counterparts. The study warrants the need for further investigations covering a wider segment of population and taking other vital parameters such as nutritional status, physical activity patterns, and socio-economic conditions so as to obtain meaningful relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]