Abstract

The multiple longitudinal study Growth, Health and Fitness of Teenagers was designed (in 1975) to describe the course of the physical and mental development of teenagers between age 12 and 17, their habitual physical activity pattern and dietary intake, and to find out whether there is a period of deterioration in their health and fitness status. The results showed that even though the amount of physical activity was reduced, this change in life style was not reflected in a unfavourable development of physical fitness of these teenagers yet. That suggested that the effect could have been delayed. In addition, the transition from school environment to work life is known to accelerate the decrease in physical activity and has shown to have a negative effect on aerobic fitness. Therefore a follow-up of these youngsters was executed when they were in their early twenties. The aim of the present study was to describe the development in physical fitness for the remaining group from early teens to early twenties. More specifically to answer the following questions; a) does physical fitness decrease between late teens and early twenties; b) do girls and boys differ in their development; c) is the fitness level, when reaching adult age, inferior to fitness at early teens? Verf.-Referat