Summary
This paper tested the hypothesis that social isolation of children brings about a reduced pattern of habitual physical activity, influences body composition during growth, and hampers development of physical performance capacity. Two cohorts of children were studied, one living at or close to the center, the other living in the periphery of the community of Lom in Southern Norway. The two cohorts of children differed in their patterns of physical behavior, but were otherwise similar in genetic traits, nutrition, and environmental conditions.
During a 4-year period the two cohorts of children were tested annually. The center children were leaner, and their maximal oxygen uptake and forced expiratory volume were greater in all years of growth when related to body size.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen KL (1966) Work capacity of selected populations. In: Baker PT, Weiner JS (eds) The biology of human adaptability. Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp 67–90
Andersen KL, Magel JR (1970) Physiological adaptation to a high level of habitual physical activity during adolescence. Int Z Angew Physiol Einschl Arbeitsphysiol 28: 209–227
Andersen KL, Shephard RJ, Denolin H, Varnauskas E, Masironi R (1971) Fundamentals of exercise testing. World Health Organization, Geneva
Andersen KL, Seliger V, Rutenfranz J, Mocellin R (1974) Physical performance capacity of children in Norway. I. Population parameters in a rural inland community with regard to maximal aerobic power. Eur J Appl Physiol 33: 177–195
Berge S (1978) KostundersØkelser hos skole barn i Lom og Skåjk. Landsforeningen for Kosthold og helse Melding 21: 63
Cotes JE, Anderson HR, Patrick JM (1974) Lung function and the response to exercise in New Guineans role of genetic and environmental factors. Philos Trans R Soc Lond [Biol] 268: 349–361
Matsui H, Tamura Y (1975) Characteristics in physical fitness of urban and rural people. In: Asahina K, Shigiya R (eds) Physiological adaptability and nutritional status of the Japanese. B: Growth, Work Capacity, and Nutrition of Japanese. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, pp 41–65
Mayer J (1960) Exercise and weight control. In: Johnson WR (ed) Science and medicine of exercise and sports. Harper and Row, New York, pp 301–310
PaŘizková J (1977) Body fat and physical fitness. Nijhoff, The Hague
Rutenfranz J, Andersen KL, Masironi R, Berndt I, Kylian H, Knauth P, Klimmer F (subm.) The pattern of habitual activity of school-children affected by social isolation
Rutenfranz J, Andersen KL, Seliger V, Klimmer F, Ruppel M (in press) Exercise fitness and body composition during the puberty growth period. Similarities and differences between children of two European countries
Seliger V (1973) Physical fitness. Universita Karlova, Praha
SchiØtz C (1929) Massen-Untersuchungen über die sportliche LeistungsfÄhigkeit von Knaben und MÄdchen der höheren Schulen. Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, Berlin (BeitrÄge zur Turn- und Sportwissenschaft Heft 19)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Andersen, K.L., Seliger, V., Rutenfranz, J. et al. Physical performance capacity of children in Norway. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 45, 155–166 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421323
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421323