Background/Purpose: Gender differences in physical fitness account for different life styles. This study examined levels of physical fitness between boys and girls in grade 5. Methods: 627 5th graders took five Fitnessgram tests administered by their physical education teachers during regular physical education lessons in PEP year 2. Nine teachers were trained for Fitnessgram tests in PEP year 1.
Analysis/Results: 57.9% of the boys and 67.5% of the girls met the healthy fitness zone for the PACER test. 82.4% of the boys and 75.7% of the girls reached the healthy zone for the curl-up test. 78.5% of the boys and 69.5% of the girls met the healthy fitness zone for the push-up test. 89% of the boys and 91% of the girls met the healthy zone for the trunk lift test. 80.25% of the boys and 85% of the girls demonstrated the healthy criteria for the shoulder stretch test. The t-tests revealed that boys statistically outperformed girls on the PACER test (Mean boys = 36, Mean girls = 30, t = 3.88, df = 617, p < .01) and push-up test (Mean boys = 14.4 vs. Mean girls = 11.8, t = 3.229, df = 624, p < .01), while the girls scored significantly higher than the boys on the shoulder stretch test (Mean boys = .84, Mean girls = .91, t = - 2.66, df = 616, p < .01), but not for curl-up and trunk lift tests.
Conclusions: There were gender differences in physical fitness levels.
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