Are American Children and Youth Fit?

We analyzed data from the National School Population Fitness Survey (Reiff et al., 1986) and data collected by the authors of the original study to assess the fitness of American children and youth based on the results of additional analyses. We then compared the numbers of children and youth meeting norm-referenced standards to numbers meeting recently adopted criterion-referenced health (CRH) standards for individual test items in the FITNESSGRAM (Institute for Aerobics Research, 1987) and AAHPERD Physical Best (AAHPERD, 1988) test batteries. The number of children and youth meeting CRH standards for multiple items in a test battery was also determined. Finally, data were analyzed to determine if changes in fitness have occurred among American children and youth over recent decades. Our results suggest that, with the exception of measures of arm and shoulder girdle strength/endurance, more children and youth meet criterion-referenced health standards than norm-referenced standards (50th percentile) and the majority of American children and youth meet CRH standards for individual test items. However, the majority of American children and youth cannot meet the CRH standards for a battery of items for either of the two batteries studied. A second look at decade to decade comparisons of fitness produced evidence that questions the idea that youth are less fit now than in previous years.