Developing Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run Standards for Rural Hispanic Youth

Youth need to understand the importance of being physically active. Hispanic youth fitness and obesity levels have been of concern to our society. Healthy People 2010 identified schools as change agents. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of fitness variables among Hispanic youth. All 234 participants (119 boys and 115 girls) completed an exercise session that consisted of the 20-m PACER shuttle test. The PACER test shuttle test is a field-based test used to estimate aerobic fitness in children (Prudential FITNESSGRAM Technical Reference Manual, 1992). On day two, measurements that included age, height, weight, percent fat, and sum of skinfolds were recorded on all participants. The study was approved by the University Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects and each participant and guardian signed an informed consent prior to data collection. Physical characteristics of the male and female Hispanic participants were (mean±sd): age (yrs)= 11.0±0.6, 11.0±0.6; height (cm)= 148.5±10.1, 150.7±7.6; weight (kg)= 43.4±13.9, 49.0±12.7; BMI= 19.5±6.3, 21.4±5.0; percent fat= 23.3±7.8, 27.4±7.0; sum of skinfolds (mm)= 27.5±10.1, 35.0±9.5; laps completed (PACER)= 31.0±15.6, 19.6±11.1; VO _{2 max} (ml/min)= 1596.4±355.8, 1428.0±302.6; VO_{2 max} (ml^.kg^-1.min^-1)= 38.1±6.5, 29.7±3.7, respectively. Each participant's VO_{2 max} was estimated from a previously published equation (Suminski et al., 1999). Regression analysis revealed that sum of skinfolds (p=.001) and gender (p=.027) were statistically significant predictors of laps completed during the PACER test. Homogeneity of regression intercept (gender) p= 0.027 and slope (gender x skinfolds) p= 0.320 revealed a common model could be used for boys and girls. Based upon these results, the following accurate (SEE = 12.5 laps; R = .534) regression model was derived for Hispanic boys and girls: laps completed (PACER test) = (sum of skinfolds * -0.461)+ (gender (0= girls, 1= boys)) * 12.451) + 35.771. The model was accurate in estimating laps completed during the PACER test and for goal setting standards in Hispanic youth. In conclusion, sum of skinfolds and gender were accurate in predicting laps completed among Hispanic youth. Further studies are needed to gain an understanding of other variables that influence the fitness levels of Hispanic youth.
Keyword(s): exercise/fitness, multiculturalism/cultural diversity, physical activity