Anthropometric Characteristics and Physical Fitness in Rural and Urban 11- to 16-Year-Old Melanesian Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study in New Caledonian Schools

Abstract

We evaluated anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness in 556 Melanesian adolescents from rural and urban New Caledonia to build health education programs focused on physical activity. In 2013, body weight, height, skinfold thickness, lean body mass (LBM), percentage fat body mass (%FBM), physical fitness (power, agility, speed, maximal aerobic speed [MAS], estimated VO_2max), and self-reported physical activity were assessed. Rural adolescents were significantly shorter and faster, had lower weight, %FBM, LBM, and power output and similar MAS and VO_2max, and were more active than urban adolescents. Rural girls were significantly shorter, had higher MAS and VO_2max, and were faster and significantly more active than urban girls while similar %BFM was observed in both groups of girls. Rural boys showed significantly lower height, weight, %FBM, and power and were significantly faster and more active than urban boys. In conclusion, rural Melanesian adolescents are more active, with good physical fitness (especially boys), although high %FBM was noted (especially in girls).