Physical fitness of rural children compared with urban children in North Cyprus: a normative study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of environmental factors on physical fitness of rural and urban children. METHODS To reveal the differences between physical fitness of children living in urban and rural districts of the Turkish Cypriot population, 3939 nine- to eleven-year-old male primary school children from 90 schools of North Cyprus were tested. Testing procedures were similar to the Eurofit tests. RESULTS The results showed that body mass index and skinfold thicknesses were higher in the urban children (P<.05). Differences in cardiopulmonary and motor fitness were also found between groups. In addition, flexibility and muscle endurance were significantly higher in the rural children. CONCLUSION The significantly lower flexibility, muscle endurance, and strength of urban children might indicate a lower habitual physical activity level.