Physical development of children and youth is monitored through somatic growth, defined by body height, weight and triceps skinfold. Nutrition status is assessed through body mass index (BMI), which is calculated form height and weight. Individuals can be divided into different classes of nutritional status: undernutrition, normal nutritional status, overweight and obesity. Triceps skinfold is the anthropometric indicator of peripheral fat distribution. Children with high BMI and thick skinfold are exposed to major health risks.
Motor development is monitored through the development of various motor abilities. Indicators of physical fitness are aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, speed, explosive strength and body coordination. All these indicators have considerable protective function, spanding from lowered risks of cardio-vascular disease and diabetes to avoiding injury by fast and coordinated response in the event of overcoming unexpected obstacles during movements and falls.
Motor abilities in primary and secondary school aremeasured with 8 different fitness tests (link na>Be fit, get into SLOfit): 20-second arm plate tapping, standing broad jump, polygon course backwards, 60-seconds sit-ups, stand and reach, bent arm hang, 60m dash and 600m run. Based on the results we can calculate Phyiscal fitness index of the individuals, which tells us their level of physical efficiency in relation to the population.
Detailed description of SLOfit test battery procedure is at this link (link na About SLOfit>Test battery).