Characteristics of Physical Growth and Physical Fitness among Primary School-Aged Children: a Case Study from One Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of physical growth and physical fitness among children aged 6-10 years attending general education schools in a selected province, according to age, sex, and survey stage. The study was conducted in three phases and included a total of 860 children. Physical growth was assessed using anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, and handgrip strength. Physical fitness was evaluated through indicators of speed, upper-body strength, lower-body power, endurance, flexibility, and agility.
 The results showed that body weight, height, chest circumference, and waist circumference increased steadily with age, reflecting normal physiological growth patterns. Handgrip strength, upper-body strength, and lower-body power also improved with increasing age. Boys demonstrated relatively higher performance in lower-body power and speed-related abilities, whereas girls exhibited greater flexibility across all age groups.
The findings indicate that physical growth and physical fitness among primary school-aged children vary according to age and sex. These results provide baseline evidence for child development assessment and may contribute to the development of educational environments, physical education programs, and child development policies.