Values of Health-related Physical Fitness in adolescents from 14 to 17 years of age; relationship with the weight status

The objective of this study was to provide gender-specific percentile values of the COFISA test, and their relation to weight status. This is a descriptive study with 1,037 adolescents (508 boys and 529 girls, 15.52 +/- 1.11 years old). The MANOVA test showed differences in favor of boys, with the exception of flexibility and weight status in normal weight, where girls were found with a better physical performance. With increased age, a progressive rise in the level of overall fitness was observed. In the relationship between weight status, coordination, and physical fitness by gender, normal-weight boys showed higher averages than their overweight and obese peers. It should be noted that the obesity group showed higher values in coordination. Regarding girls, the normal-weight ones obtained higher scores in manual strength and coordination than the overweight and obese group, with the overweight group showing higher scores in abdominal strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, overall physical condition, and coordination compared to the group with normal weight; and in flexibility and coordination compared to the group with obesity. The obesity group showed higher scores in abdominal strength. In conclusion, this study provides updated percentiles that allow the evaluation of health-related physical fitness in adolescents so to identify those at risk of major chronic diseases, as well as to evaluate the effects of alternative interventions in this age group.