A1 Journal article (refereed)
The associations between organized sport participation and physical fitness and weight status development during adolescence (2024)

Kolunsarka, I., Stodden, D., Gråstèn, A., Huhtiniemi, M., & Jaakkola, T. (2024). The associations between organized sport participation and physical fitness and weight status development during adolescence. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.07.013

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.

JYU authors or editors

Kolunsarka, Iiris
Huhtiniemi, Mikko
Jaakkola, Timo

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kolunsarka, Iiris; Stodden, David; Gråstèn, Arto; Huhtiniemi, Mikko; Jaakkola, Timo

Journal or series: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

ISSN: 1440-2440

eISSN: 1878-1861

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 25/07/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.07.013

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Abstract

Objectives
We are yet to understand how continuous participation in organized sports, dropout from organized sports, or complete non-participation affect adolescents' trajectories of physical fitness and body mass index (BMI). Thus, the aim was to examine longitudinal changes in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and BMI between adolescents 1) who continued or started organized sport participation, 2) who dropped out, and 3) who never participated in organized sport or dropped out before adolescence.

Desing
Longitudinal observational study.

Methods
Over four years (2017–2021), sport participation, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and BMI data were collected annually from 963 participants (Mage = 11.25 ± 0.31). Latent growth curve models were utilized to examine levels (baseline) and slopes (rate of change) of BMI, cardiorespiratory, and muscular fitness in each sport participation group.

Results
Fitness levels significantly varied among groups. Continuing sport participants exhibited the highest levels, non-participants the lowest. Both groups showed significant improvements in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness over time. Dropouts had higher baseline fitness than non-participants but demonstrated no change in cardiorespiratory fitness over time and a significantly smaller increase in muscular fitness than the two other groups. BMI increased similarly in all groups, with non-participants starting at higher baseline levels.

Conclusions
Individuals who continually participated in sports maintained higher levels of fitness than individuals who did not participate in organized sports across adolescence. However, individuals who dropped out of organized sports, showed plateau in their fitness improvements, suggesting that the physical activity previously obtained through organized sports may not be replaced elsewhere.

Keywords: young people; sports; physical hobbies; aerobic capacity; physical activity; physical fitness; body mass index; muscle fitness; longitudinal research