Are eating habits associated with physical fitness in primary school children?

ObjectiveChildren's eating habits have mainly been related to anthropometric characteristics but less is known about their association with physical fitness.Methods278 French school children (131 boys and 147 girls) filled in eating habit questionnaires and completed anthropometric measurement (weight, height, skinfolds) and physical fitness tests. The 20-m Shuttle run test and the Squat Jump test were used to assess aerobic fitness and anaerobic (lower limb muscle power) fitness respectively.ResultsBreakfast consumption was associated with both aerobic fitness (p < 0.05) and lower limb muscle power (p < 0.01) while snacking was negatively related to Squat Jump performances (p < 0.05). There was no association between physical fitness and either the type of the consumed-beverages or TV watching during diner and lunch meals. Cumulated unhealthy eating habits was negatively associated with CRF stages and lower limb muscle power performances (p < 0.05).ConclusionFrench primary school children physical fitness is associated with their eating habits and decreases with the number of unhealthy eating behaviors cumulated.

► School children's eating habits are related to their physical fitness.
► Children with more eating risk factors showed significantly lower physical fitness.
► Dietary should focus on eating habits and the number of risk factors they present.