Research in Physical Education, Sport and Health
2025, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 19–26
ISSN (Print): 1857-8152; ISSN (Online): 1857-8160

Original scientific paper
Open Access
COMPARISON OF VARIOUS ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES ASSOCIATED WITH ADIPOSITY IN FORECASTING CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS IN MACEDONIAN CHILDREN
Kushtrim Berisha¹ ORCID iD, Visar Ganiu²ORCID iD, Mitrichka Dzambazovska Stardelova³ ORCID iD, Seryozha Gontarev³
ORCID iD
¹University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prishtina, Kosovo
²Faculty of Physical Education, University of Tetovo, Tetovo, Republic of North Macedonia
³Faculty of Physical Education, Sport, and Health, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
https://doi.org/10.46733/PESH2514219b   

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Abstract
This study investigates anthropometric measures associated with adiposity to forecast cardiorespiratory fitness in Macedonian schoolchildren. The objective was to compare established indices, such as Body Mass Index and Waist-to-Height Ratio, with more contemporary ones, including Relative Fat Mass Pediatric, Tri-Ponderal Mass Index, Waist-to-BMI Ratio, and Grip-to-BMI Ratio. The study was conducted with a sample of 2,197 primary school students, who were grouped according to gender. Data on body weight, height, waist circumference, body fat percentage and cardiorespiratory fitness (assessed by the 20-m shuttle run test), were collected from participants, and regression analyses were carried out to assess the predictive capabilities of the various measures. Results RFMp, Grip-to-BMI Ratio, and BMI were the best CRF predictors. The Grip-to-BMI Ratio was found to be important for males in determining CRF and it was also added into the females category. In boys, BMI and waist circumference were more influential. The conclusion suggests that incorporating new anthropometric indices into clinical practice can enhance the identification of cardiometabolic risk and improve the prevention of health issues in children. These findings support the importance of regular CRF assessments as part of health check-ups.

Keywords: Cardiorespiratory fitness, Anthropometric indices, Adiposity predictors

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