Health-Related Fitness in Homeschool versus Public School Adolescents

Background: Despite the known benefits of physical fitness in adolescence, the growing and at-risk homeschool adolescent population has been largely overlooked in current research. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare health-related fitness including body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular fitness between homeschool and public school adolescents. Methods: Homeschool adolescents ages 12-17 years (n = 66) completed the Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run (PACER), curl-up, and 90 degrees push-up portions of the FitnessGram(R) to assess cardiorespiratory fitness as well as abdominal and upper body strength and endurance. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare results to public school children (n = 66). Results: There was no significant difference in BMI between groups. Homeschool adolescents had significantly lower cardiorespiratory fitness and abdominal, but not upper body, strength and endurance. They also showed significantly lower health classification rankings in cardiorespiratory fitness and upper body, but not abdominal, strength and endurance. Discussion: Homeschool adolescents showed significant deficits in health-related fitness that could negatively impact both current and future health. Translation to Health Education Practice: The homeschool community has a need for health education to address deficits in health-related fitness. This study can aid health educators in planning and implementing targeted, effective interventions in the future.