Distribution of cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents at different latitudes

Objective To explore the differences and characteristics of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among children and adolescents in regions with different latitudes in China. Methods A total of 9892 children and adolescents aged 7–22 years were selected from seven administrative regions in China by the stratified cluster random sampling method. CRF was measured by performance on the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) and estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ). One‐way ANOVA, one‐way ANCOVA, and the Lambda Mu and Sigma methods were used to analyze the data. Results Overall, the VO 2max of children and adolescents at high latitudes was significantly lower than that of children at low and middle latitudes. The P 10 , P 50 , and P 90 20mSRT values for children and adolescents of most age groups in high latitudes were less than those in low and middle latitudes. The 20mSRT‐Z and VO 2max ‐Z scores among children and adolescents aged 7–22 in high latitudes were lower than those in middle and low latitudes after adjusting for age, per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and per capita disposable income. Conclusion In general, the CRF of children and adolescents at high latitudes was less than that at low and middle latitudes. Effective measures should be taken to improve CRF in children and adolescents at high latitudes.