Self-perceived fatigue, physical performance and the relation with body composition in Flemish adolescents

Background & Aim: Increasing numbers of school children are over- weight or obese. ese conditions are o en related to increased caloric intake but also due to increased sedentary behaviour. It was shown that obese adolescents experienced higher levels of fatigue compared to nor- mal weight peers. e aim of this study was to determine the e ect of physical activity on self-perceived fatigue and the in uence of body com- position on these parameters.Objectives: Obesity is linked with increased feelings of fatigue but is was never linked to body composition parameters. It seems that increased sport activity has bene cial in uence on levels of fatigue but to high work load had an opposite e ect.Materials & Methods: 610 schoo+660l going children were assessed during physical education lessons for self-perceived fatigue (SpF), body composition parameters (BCP), activity level (AL) and physical perfor- mance (PP).Results: Overweight (p < 0,05) and obese (p < 0,01) children showed higher levels of self-perceived fatigue (SpF) compared to under- and normal weights children. ese levels of fatigue were related to physical performance, activity levels and body composition parameters. Being more physical active (sports and leisure activities) lowered SpF (r between -0,13 and -0,43; all p < 0,01) but children with higher work levels experi- enced higher general (r = 0,014; p < 0,01) and physical fatigue (r = 0,09; p < 0,05). Overweight and Obese children showed higher levels of work index compared to normal and under weight children (p < 0,01). Conclusion: Sport and leisure time activities seemed to have a positive in uence on SpF in pupils. Encouraging pupils to lower SpF would be favourable. Since higher work load was related with higher fatigue and fat mass in these children, school o ering a technical and professional curric- ulum must be aware of this negative e ect. Further research is necessary to verify whether school work or extra curriculum work has the higher impact on fatigue.

ISBN:978-3-318-05895-6