A Description and Comparison of Anthropometrical and Physical Fitness Characteristics in Urban and Rural 7-11 Years Old Boys and Girls in Golestan Province, Iran

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the anthropometrical and fitness parameters in urban-rural boys and girls in the age of 7-11 years old in Golestan, Iran and consider the relationship between them. 1224 boys and girls (7-11 years old) were selected as sample from three urban areas and siex rural areas in Golestan. Standing height, weight, body mass index, percentage of body as anthropometrical variables and 40 m dash, standing long jump, sit and reach, handgrip, sit-up and 10×4 m running as fitness variables were measured. The data were analyzseds using mean, standard deviation, t test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation (P<0.05). The results showed that boys were better than girls in height, weight, standing long jump and sit-up items. The girls, also, had higher scores than boys in percentage of body fat. The urban children were better than rural in weight, standing long jump and sit-up. The rural girls had lower scores in handgrip rather than other groups. Correlation results showed that height positively and weight negatively had a correlation with running and jumping tasks. Weight had a positive correlation with handgrip item. The results are discussed in positive effect of better living condition on growth and fitness on the children in rural areas.


INTRODUCTION
and rural areas in United Stated and Canada [5][6][7][8] reported The significant changes that accompany the China's` children in urban-rural conditions.Data from transition from agricultural to urban societies have greatly Africa, also, revealed that urban-rural contrasts are impacted the social and biological transformation of evident in the growth and body size [9,10].populations worldwide.The urbanization process, Malina et al. [11] pointed out that body size is related however, occurs under different circumstances among to performance of many physical fitness components.countries [1].Living in areas distinguished by population Hence, the size differences commonly observed in urbansize can be associated with differences in eating habits, rural children may also be related to different levels of access to sport facilities, sanitation and health services physical fitness.In contrast, to consider the growth and opportunities for physical activities [2].
status of rural and urban children, corresponding Urban and rural environmental differences in growth comparisons of physical performance are relatively of children have come into focus of interest in the last limited, however, these researches have been shown years.There are several studies which have reported ambiguous evidences within countries.contradictory evidences in samples from various Matsui and Tamura [12] showed that rural children countries and cutures and with various age ranges.
were superior in their endurance ability compared to urban Bielicki [3] and Eiben et al. [4] reported that within a children from Japan, while Pilicz and Sadowska [13] specific country or cultural group in Europe, children who indicated that urban children from Poland favored the were living in urban areas have greater size than children better performance in physical fitness tests such as dash, in rural areas, while there were no significant differences ball throw and vertical jump.Same results in aerobic in the growth status in children who were living in urban fitness reported between youth 12-15 years old in significant differences in growth and maturity status in Switzerland [14].Hennenberg and Louw [15] showed that mountains of the Alborz range.Statistics provided from rural children in South Africa had trend towards have a Iran Statistical Center have shown that in Golestan lower grip strength compared to urban peers, but there province socioeconomic status has changed during the was no consistent rural-urban differences in past few decades as an improvement in living conditions, neuromuscular reaction time and pulse rate.It has been with greater availability of schools and universities, showed that in a large sample of 3-18 years old boys and electricity, safe drinking water, telephone communication girls in Hungary, urban conditions has been influenced on and roads.physical fitness, so that urban children had better performance in fitness tests [4].With adjustment for age Subjects and Data Collection: The subject population and body size, handgrip strength was greater in rural consisted of 632 (320 urban and 312 rural) boys and 592 children in Mexico, while explosive power and muscle (302 urban and 290 rural) girls aged 7-11 years old who endurance and strength were better in urban than in rural were selected from three urban and six rural regions in children [5].Urban children in Greece were significantly Golestan state where was represented a large range of better in basketball throw and vertical jump than rural socioeconomic status and living conditions.This sample children, while rural children were significantly better in was selected from healthy school children using a handgrip strength than urban children [2].There is a multistage, proportional cluster sampling from a total of positive correlation between distance covered with height 74,403 school children in the region of Golestan state, and with weight and they suggested that rural girls Iran.Procedures took place during morning and afternoon processing proportionately higher height and weight had visits from October 2009 to April 2010.Demonstrations of better physical performance.According to these results, each test were given to children prior to testing.All it is clears that difference in urban-rural children in measurements and tests were being presented in the order physical fitness has not been clearly mentioned [16].
in which they were conducted.Information was collected Growth and fitness needs to be studied in different by an expert team of researchers and technicians climate, economic and cultural context.As a result, including physicians, physical educators, child investigation of the growth and fitness of children development experts and sport science students who resident in rapidly expanding urban areas and in rural were only trained for the purpose of present research.communities in the same general region in difference countries are potentially of interest [17].
Measurements: Standing height (SH) to the nearest Because the special situation of Golestan province in centimeter and weight (W) to the nearest 100 grams were Iran, which has many rural populations near to urban measured in the upright position, barefoot and in light areas, we chose to consider urban-rural differences in clothing by experimenters, following the National Health anthropometry and fitness in urban-rural communities.
and Nutrition Examination Survey protocol.Body mass The aim of this study, however, is to bring information index (BMI) was derived by Quenelle's index from weight about growth profile and fitness characteristics of urban (kg) / height squared (m ).Percentage body fat (BF) was and rural children and as well as to determine the computed from two skinfolds, triceps and subscapular relationship between them.
(average of two measurements), using a Harpenden

Physical fitness was assessed according to a battery
Study Area: Golestan is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, performance-related physical fitness tests including 40 m located in the north-east of the country, south of the dash and standing long jump and health-related physical Caspian Sea.It has a population of 1.9 million (2009) and fitness tests including sit and reach, handgrip, sit-up and an area of 20,380 km².Recent decades haves seen a huge 10×4 m running.In the 40 m dash, the child started the test migration to this province, especially from Zabol northest from a standing position with one foot on the starting line.city of Sistan and Baluchestan.They are a sizable minority The timer stood at the finish line, called ready and at cities such as Gorgan, Ali Abad, Kalaleh and many of signaled the start of the dash.Timing was initiated by the the eastern townships and most of them live in urban first movement of the subject.Time was recorded to the areas around the towns.theGolestan enjoys mild weather nearest 0.1 s.The standing long jump was measured to and a temperate climate most of the year.Geographically, the nearest cm as the distance from the take-off line to the it is divided into two sections: The plains and the point where the heels touched the ground.Three trials were administrated and the best was retained for analysis.Statistical Analyses: All statistical analyses were Sit and reach was used to assess low back flexibility, in performed with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social which the child, with shoes removed, was seated at the Science, version 10.0).Descriptive statistics including test apparatus with the legs fully extended and the feet means and standard deviations were computed for all flat against the end board.The child was instructed to variables.Group differences in anthropometric lean forward, extending the finger tips, with palms facing characteristics and fitness parameters were assessed downward, as along the ruler as possible without using unpaired Student`s ttest.The age-related jerking or bounding.The distance of the stretch was differences in anthropometric characteristics and physical recorded to the nearest cm.Three trials were recorded and fitness were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and postthe best was retained for analysis.The handgrip was hoc follow-up test.Pearson correlations were used to measured by a dynamometer that shows the maximal force determine the degree of association among developed by the forearm.This consisted of squeezing a anthropometric and fitness characteristics.A value of rubber bulb connected to a manometer.The children were P < 0.05 was considered as significant.given three tries using both hands and the highest readings are those analyzed.Timed sit-ups were carried RESULTS AND DISCUSSION out to gauge abdominal muscular strength and endurance.Participants performed the sit-up test with knees bent at The mean and standard deviations of the 90 degrees and feet flat on the floor.The number of anthropometrical characteristics and fitness parameters completed sit-ups in 30 s was recorded.A 10×4-m shuttle are summarized in Tables 1-4.The mean height was running and turning test at maximum speed were significantly different between boys and girls, with boys completed for all subjects and used to assess agility.Two were taller than girls in all age groups (P<0.05).However, parallel lines were drawn on the floor separated by 10 m.
there was no significant difference between urban and Both feet had to cross the line each time.The time needed rural children (P<0.05).In the case of weight, boys and to complete four cycles was recorded as the final score.urban children were significantly heavier than girls and All children were motivated to run as fast as they could.
rural children in all age groups, respectively (P<0.05).association was found between BMI and fitness Although no significant difference was found between parameters (r=-0.02 to 0.03, P<0.05).urban and rural children, girls had higher body fat, as compared with boys (P<0.05).Comparison of fitness DISCUSSION parameters revealed no significant differences between boys and girls as well as between urban and rural The present study reports rural and urban children in 40 m dash, sit and reach and 10×4 m run tests differences in anthropometry and physical fitness for 7-11 (P<0.05).Boys and urban children had better scores in years old children.Despite boys were taller than girls, but standing long jump and sit-ups tests, as compared no significant difference observed between urban and with girls and rural children, respectively (P<0.05).In rural children.This finding is not in agreement with handgrip, rural girls had significantly lower scores than previous studies [4,5,7,18,19] and is in agreement with others (P<0.05).
others [20,21].Urban children were heavier than rural Age-related functions among anthropometric children and boys were heavier than girls.Boys and girls characteristics and physical fitness were varied among as well as urban and rural children had no significant characteristics and also tasks.The height, weight and differences in the case of BMI [4,5,7,9,11,22,23].Our BMI body fat were consistently increased along with age values are similar to other studies [2,5] butand are not between urban and rural boys and girls (P<0.05).In the similar to the research of Hodgkin et al. [21].Girls had case of BMI, although gradual increase was observed higher body fat than boys and no significant difference with age, but no significant differences were found in 7-9 was found between urban and rural children.In fact, the years old urban boys, 7-8 years old urban boys and 7-9 body fat percentage values found for subjects in this years old urban and rural girls (P<0.05).Both urban and study was not similar to those found in other studies rural children had better performance in dash run, [20,21] and was similar to those found in other studies [2].standing long jump, handgrip, sit-up and 10×4 run tasks The result of the present study in the case of 40 m along with age, but no significant difference was found dash, sit-and-reach was similar with Tsimeas et al.
in urban-rural differences.They found boys performed The results of Pearson correlation test showed better of girls and we found no significant difference positive and significant correlation between height and between them.In those study participants were younger fitness on 40 m dash, standing long jump, handgrip and than our subjects (about 12 years old) and it can affect 10×4 m run (r=0.12 to 0.64, P<0.05).A very low and no that finding.Also, these findings are not in according significant correlation was found between height and sit-with Pena Reyes [5], who found that urban children had up as well as sit-and-reach (r=0.01 to 0.08, P<0.05).Weight greater flexibility in the lower back and upper thighs (sit had negative and significant correlation with 40 m dash, and reach) at ages 6-13 years old children.Our results in standing long jump and 10×4 m run (r=-0.46 to -0.12, the case of 10×4 m run item wereas similar to results from P<0.05), while positive and significant correlation was Tsimeas et al.
[2], which revealed no significant difference observed between weight and handgrip (r=0.19 to 0.71, between urban and rural as well as boys and girls P<0.05).No significant correlation was found between children.In handgrip, rural girls had significantly lower weight and sit-up as well as sit-and-reach (r=-0.03 to 0.04, scores than others, which this finding is not consistent P<0.05).Correlation between body fat and fitness with Pena Reyes [5] and Tsimeas et al .[5].In line with parameters such as 40 m dash, standing long jump, sit-up, previously published reports on urban and rural children sit-and-reach and 10×4 m run was consistently negative [5], the our data have demonstrated that boys and urban and low to moderate (r=-0.59 to -0.03, P<0.05), while this children had better scores in standing long jump and sitcorrelation with handgrip was consistently positive and up than girls and rural children.
The results of the present study showed that urban No significant differences in such anthropometrical and rural children in both sexes improved in size of body and fitness items in the present study can be considered and motor tasks with age.This emphasizes the role of as an improvement in living factors in rural areas during neuromuscular maturation and experience in the size of last years.Nevertheless, according to other studies, our body and performance of motor tasks.
results showed significant differences in some Height is positively and body weight is negatively anthropometrical and fitness parameters between urban correlated with performance on jumping and running tasks and rural children, which it makes a question in mind.How [22][23][24].Our results report same correlations between would it would be possible to create equal chances in weight and height with jumping and running fitness tasks.
growth and physical fitness for rural children?It seems These trends imply that taller and lighter children perform that there is a need to elaborate a better and more better in activities involving movement or projection of equitable distribution, a better and well-considered health the body through space (jumping or running) compared and welfare politics as well as a fair children-politics to smaller and heavier peers.Body fat is negatively related overfor a long period of time.We can only hope that to performance, especially items that require displacement governments will take notice of this problem and will find of projection of the body and body fat is positively a correct solution for it.associated with static strength [22][23][24][25].Our results are The present study has some implications.First, our also similarame to these results, inso that there was a study is a primaryfirst study to underline the urban-rural negative correlation between body fat and jumping and differences in the case of anthropometry and physical running fitness tasks and a positive correlation between fitness in Iran.The results provide the scores of urban body fat and handgrip.Since fatter children tend to be and rural children in anthropometry and physical fitness heavier [26,27], our finding revealed a positively in a different geographical and cultural area, compared to association between weight and handgrip.In contrast to other studies.Finally, this research shows that it is Pate et al. [28], we found that height and weight have not possible to involve large samples of children in the a significant correlation with sit-up.Findings also showed assessment of their level of anthropometry and fitness.no significant relationship between height and weight Such surveys provide physical education teachers with a with sit-and-reach item.These results are linked to the fact pedagogic and scientific basis for designing their that sit-up and sit-and-reach tasks do not require great activities and for monitoring their impact on children's displacement of the body.
health and well-being.In comparison to the findings from other countries in In the future, more research on urban and rural Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia, although we children linked to various kinds of anthropometry and found somewhat the same differences and correlations physical fitness parameters among the different states between urban and rural of both sexes in anthropometric and provinces in Iran should be undertaken to achieve and fitness indexes, but we found some contrasts with a better understanding their differences in Iranian those results.These consistencies and contrasts are children.linked to the fact that growth is a multifaceted dimension influenced by many determinants like genetic, living REFRENCES condition, nutrition, socioeconomic situation, environmental factors and so on.
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children?An Allometric approach.British J. Sport offered to the children in rural areas during last two and Med., 39: 671-674.decades.The better life conditions in rural areas rather 3. Bielicki, T., 1986.Physical growth as a measure than in the past are positive, well-perceptible factors of economic well-being of populations: The influencing growth and maturation of children.They twentieth century.In F Falkner and JM Tanner, eds.: promptly effect or work and the children's organism areis Human Growth.A Comprehensive Treatise, highly susceptible to them.

Table 1 :
Mean and standard deviations for urban girls in anthropometry and fitness scores

Table 2 :
Mean and standard deviations for rural girls in anthropometry and fitness scores

Table 4 :
Mean and standard deviations for rural boys in anthropometry and fitness scores