Construct validity and test–retest reliability of the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) in Colombian children and adolescents aged 9–17.9 years: the FUPRECOL study

Abstract

BackgroundThere is a lack of instruments and studies written in Spanish evaluating physical fitness, impeding the determination of the current status of this important health indicator in the Latin population, especially in Colombia. The aim of the study was two-fold: to examine the validity of the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) with a population-based sample of schoolchildren from Bogota, Colombia and to examine the reliability of the IFIS with children and adolescents from Engativa, Colombia.MethodsThe sample comprised 1,873 Colombian youths (54.5% girls) aged 9–17.9 years. We measured their adiposity markers (waist-to-height ratio, skinfold thickness, percentage of body fat and body mass index), blood pressure, lipids profile, fasting glucose, and physical fitness level (self-reported and measured). A validated cardiometabolic risk index score was also used. An age- and sex-matched subsample of 229 schoolchildren who were not originally included in the sample completed the IFIS twice for reliability purposes.ResultsOur data suggest that both measured and self-reported overall physical fitness levels were inversely associated with percentage of body fat indicators and the cardiometabolic risk index score. Overall, schoolchildren who self-reported “good” or “very good” fitness had better measured fitness levels than those who reported “very poor/poor” fitness (all p < 0.001). The test-retest reliability of the IFIS items was also good, with an average weighted kappa of 0.811.DiscussionOur findings suggest that self-reported fitness, as assessed by the IFIS, is a valid, reliable, and health-related measure. Furthermore, it can be a good alternative for future use in large studies with Latin schoolchildren from Colombia.

International Fitness Scale—IFIS: Validity and association with health‐related quality of life in pregnant women

“…The clinical importance and health‐related outcomes of IFIS in other populations have been shown . These results provide additional support to the potential use of IFIS in medical and clinical settings, as it might provide relevant information not only regarding the levels of physical fitness, but also discriminating fairly well the current HRQoL of pregnant women.…”

“…The IFIS comprises five questions asking participants to rate their physical fitness in comparison with the average person of the same age in a Likert scale with the categories “very poor,” “poor,” “average,” “good,” or “very good.” There is 1 question about overall physical fitness, and 4 questions about its specific components (ie, CRF, muscular strength, speed/agility, and flexibility) and it can be completed in just one minute. This questionnaire has been validated in European adolescents, Spanish children, young adults, older adults, women with fibromialgia, and Colombian adolescents . The questionnaire is available in different languages at the website of the PROFITH research group: http://profith.ugr.es/IFIS.…”

“…This questionnaire has been validated in European adolescents, 13 Spanish children, 18 young adults, 27 older adults, 20 women with fibromialgia, 21 and Colombian adolescents. 19 The questionnaire is available in different languages at the website of the PROFITH research group: http://profi th.ugr.es/IFIS.…”

“…[14][15][16] Since physical fitness is a modifiable factor that can be enhanced through exercise interventions, 17 assessing physical fitness to individualize exercise prescription to be interesting. The IFIS has shown acceptable construct discriminant validity and reliability in different populations including children, 18 adolescents, 19 young 13 and older adults, 20 and women with fibromyalgia. 21 However, its validity to discriminate different objectively measured physical fitness levels during pregnancy is unknown.…”

Is city of residence a factor differentiating sitting time in adolescents?

“…About the test-retest reliability of scale, perfect agreement was observed in latin adolescents aged 9 to 17.9 years, with Kappa coefficient of 0.81 17 . The question states: "Think about your level of physical fitness (compared to your friends) and choose the right option.…”