Socioeconomic status influences physical fitness in European adolescents independently of body fat and physical activity: the HELENA study.

INTRODUCTION The influence of socioeconomic status on health-related fitness is not clear. AIM To examine the influence of socioeconomic status on health-related fitness in adolescents. METHODS A total of 3,259 adolescents (15.0 +/- 1.3 y) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS) participated in the study. Socioeconomic status was assessed by the family affluence scale (FAS). Speed-agility, muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed. Covariates included total body fat, physical activity and pubertal status. RESULTS Adolescents with high FAS had significantly higher fitness levels than their peers of lower FAS categories except for speed-agility and handgrip in boys. Overall, the associations observed presented a medium to large effect size. CONCLUSION These results suggest that socioeconomic status is positively associated with physical fitness in European adolescents independently of total body fat and habitual physical activity.