Applicability of anthropometric indicators to assess physical fitness: proposal of percentiles for schoolchildren living at high altitude in Peru

Fuentes-Lopez, Jose; Vidal-Espinoza, Ruben; Pereira da Silva, Danilo Rodrigues; Mamani-Velásquez, Dony; Vargas-Ramos, Eliseny; Pacompia-Cari, Estanislao; Cossio-Bolaños, Wilbert; Cossio-Bolaños, Marco; Gomez-Campos, Rossana

doi:10.1016/j.jped.2025.101497

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE • J. Pediatr. (Rio J.) 102 (1) • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2025.101497 linkcopy

Applicability of anthropometric indicators to assess physical fitness: proposal of percentiles for schoolchildren living at high altitude in Peru

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Objective: a) To verify the applicability of anthropometric indicators to evaluate physical fitness in school children and b) Propose physical fitness reference values for Peruvian children living at high altitudes in Peru.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in children aged 6 to 12 years living at high altitude in Peru. A total of 1372 primary school children (785 males and 587 females) were evaluated. Weight, height and four physical tests [Hand grip strength (right and left HGS)], Horizontal jump (HJ), Round trip (5 × 10 repetitions), and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT)] were evaluated. Body Surface Area (BSA), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Triponderal Index (TPI) were calculated.

Results: The BSA presented a better comparative structure in relation to BMI and TPI with all physical tests. In males, HGS was related between r = 0.64 and 0.66; HJ (r = 0.26), agility (r = −0.31) and 6MWT (r = 0.30). In females, HGS was related between r = 0.63 and 0.64; HJ (r = 0.36), agility (r = −0.36), and 6MWT (r = 0.21). The predictive power in the four physical tests ranged from R² = 9% to 43% in males, and from 5% to 41% in females. Percentiles by age and sex were proposed for BSA, HGS (right and left), HJ, agility, and 6MWT.

Conclusion: BSA is the best predictor of physical fitness in schoolchildren from high altitude areas in Peru, surpassing BMI and TPI. In addition, reference values were proposed to evaluate physical fitness in these children.

KEYWORDS
Anthropometric indicators; Physical fitness; Children; Percentiles; Altitude

Age (years)	n	Weight (kg)		Height (cm)		BMI (kg/m²)		TPI (kg/m3)		BSA (cm2)		HGSR (kgf)		HGSL (kgf)		Horizontal jump (cm)		Agility 5×10 (seg)		6MWT
Age (years)	n	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD	X	SD
Males
6	59	24.5	6.4	119.6*	6.6	17.1	4	14.4	3.3	0.88	0.17	6.5	1.7	6.4	1.7	83.2*	21.8	29.5*	3.4	493.5	48.2
7	110	26.2	5	122.9	6.4	17.2	2.5	14.1	2	0.94	0.11	7.3	2.1	7.1	1.9	91.1*	21.7	28.0*	3.7	508.7	55
8	123	30.7	6.5	128.5	5	18.5	3.1	14.4	2.3	1.04	0.13	8.8	2.6	8.6	2.7	99.3*	16.1	26.2*	3	540.1	57.8
9	112	34.1	8.6	133.2	6.3	19.1	3.8	14.3	2.7	1.12	0.16	10.8	3.7	10.3	3.5	103.7*	23.7	24.7*	2.3	551.1	65.8
10	131	37.5	9	138.1	6	19.4	3.9	14.1	2.5	1.2	0.17	13.1	4	13.2	4.3	116.8*	20.3	23.7*	2.3	583.8	56.8
11	135	41.6	9.6	143.9	7	20	3.8	13.9	2.5	1.29	0.17	15.1	3.8	14.3	3.6	118.5	22.3	23.3*	2.3	605.3	70
12	115	46.6	10.7	151.0*	6.84	20.4	3.96	13.6	2.55	1.39	0.18	19.0*	5.5	18.4*	5.23	132.0*	24.6	22.1*	1.86	624.5*	68.3
Females
6	56	22.7	8	116.2	3.9	16.8	5.9	14.5	5.1	0.85	0.14	6	1.8	5.5	1.4	77.2	15.3	29.5	3.5	501.6	54.2
7	91	25.4	7.5	121.6	5.3	17.2	4.7	14.1	3.8	0.92	0.13	7.2	1.8	6.7	2	82.8	17.1	29.5	3.5	535.4	52
8	112	28.1	5.4	127.3	5.3	17.3	2.6	13.6	1.9	0.99	0.11	8.7	4.3	8.2	4.1	94	18.1	27	2.5	557.0	53.4
9	98	32.4	8.2	132.6	6.5	18.3	3.7	13.8	2.7	1.09	0.15	10.3	2.4	9.5	2.9	96.9	16.5	25.9	2.3	560.3	59.9
10	98	37.1	6.7	140.6	6	18.7	2.9	13.3	2.2	1.2	0.13	13.3	4.1	12.6	3.7	104.8	17	24.8	1.8	588.4	78.1
11	77	41.5	9.7	145.3	6.5	19.5	3.5	13.4	2.2	1.29	0.17	15.8	3.8	15.2	4.3	117.4	17	24.4	2.3	604.5	60.6
12	55	45.7	9	148.3	6.4	20.6	3.1	13.9	1.9	1.37	0.16	17.9	3.8	16.5	3.9	115	16.2	23.9	1.7	581	60.6

Variables	BMI (kg/m²)					TPI (kg/m³)					BSA (cm²)
Variables	r	r²	SEE	cte	b	r	r²	SEE	cte	b	r	r²	SEE	cte	b
Males
HGSR (kg/f)	0.35	0.13	5.34	2.54	0.53	0.01	0.00	5.78	12.53	0.02	0.66	0.43	4.37	−5.29	15.08
HGSL (kg/f)	0.35	0.12	5.13	2.63	0.5	0.01	0.00	5.59	12.16	0.02	0.64	0.41	4.28	−4.77	14.34
HJ (cm)	0.05	0,00	26.48	117.55	−0.32	0.29	0.08	25.45	155.07	−3.09	0.26	0.07	25.68	78.28	27.63
Agility 5 × 10(seg)	0.00	0.00	3.43	24.65	0,00	0.26	0.07	3.32	19.63	0.35	0.31	0.1	3.26	29.76	−4.30
6MWT (m)	0.01	0.00	75.88	568.68	0.17	0.24	0.06	73.54	675.69	−7.37	0.3	0.09	72.24	461.5	91.93
Females
HGSR (kg/f)	0.27	0.07	4.84	5.24	0.32	0.00	0.00	5.02	11.13	−0.01	0.64	0.41	3.86	−5.29	15.08
HGSL (kg/f)	0.27	0.07	4.75	4.71	0.31	0,00	0.00	4.93	10.35	0.00	0.63	0.4	3.82	−5.05	13.89
HJ (cm)	0.06	0.00	20.96	93.11	0.28	0.14	0.02	20.81	110	−0.86	0.36	0.13	19.62	61.11	33.34
Agility 5 × 10(seg)	-0.05	0.00	3.23	27.08	−0.04	0.15	0.02	3.19	24.32	0.15	0.36	0.13	3.01	32.33	−5.34
6MWT (m)	0.05	0.00	66.86	578.65	−0.81	0.20	0.04	65.59	619.19	−4.01	0.21	0.05	65.41	493	63.31

Age	L	M	S	P3	P5	P10	P15	P25	P50	P75	P85	P90	P95	P97
BSA (cm²)
6	−0.02	0.88	0.00	0.73	0.74	0.77	0.78	0.81	0.88	0.96	1.01	1.06	1.13	1.19
7	−0.02	0.95	0.00	0.77	0.79	0.82	0.84	0.87	0.95	1.04	1.10	1.14	1.22	1.28
8	−0.01	1.04	0.00	0.83	0.85	0.89	0.91	0.95	1.04	1.14	1.21	1.26	1.35	1.41
9	−0.01	1.12	0.00	0.88	0.90	0.94	0.97	1.02	1.12	1.24	1.31	1.37	1.46	1.52
10	−0.01	1.20	0.00	0.93	0.96	1.00	1.04	1.09	1.20	1.32	1.40	1.46	1.55	1.61
11	0.00	1.29	0.00	1.00	1.03	1.08	1.11	1.17	1.29	1.42	1.50	1.56	1.65	1.71
12	0.00	1.38	0.00	1.08	1.11	1.16	1.20	1.26	1.38	1.52	1.60	1.66	1.75	1.82
HGSR (kg/f)
6	0.01	6.30	0.00	3.2	3.5	4.1	4.5	5.1	6.3	7.5	8.2	8.7	9.5	9.9
7	0.01	7.10	0.00	3.8	4.2	4.7	5.2	5.8	7.1	8.6	9.5	10.0	11.0	11.6
8	0.00	8.50	0.00	4.8	5.1	5.8	6.2	7.0	8.5	10.3	11.4	12.1	13.3	14.2
9	0.00	10.30	0.00	6.1	6.5	7.2	7.7	8.6	10.3	12.5	13.8	14.8	16.4	17.6
10	0.00	12.50	0.00	7.6	8.1	8.9	9.4	10.4	12.5	15.0	16.6	17.8	19.8	21.2
11	0.00	14.90	0.00	9.1	9.7	10.6	11.3	12.4	14.9	17.9	19.8	21.2	23.5	25.2
12	0.00	18.00	0.00	11.0	11.7	12.8	13.7	15.0	18.0	21.6	24.0	25.7	28.5	30.6
HGSL (kg/f)
6	0.01	6.20	0.00	3.4	3.7	4.2	4.5	5.1	6.2	7.4	8.0	8.5	9.3	9.8
7	0.00	6.90	0.00	3.8	4.1	4.7	5.1	5.7	6.9	8.4	9.2	9.8	10.7	11.3
8	0.00	8.20	0.00	4.6	4.9	5.6	6.0	6.7	8.2	10.0	11.1	11.8	13.0	13.9
9	0.00	10.00	0.00	5.8	6.2	6.9	7.4	8.2	10.0	12.2	13.6	14.6	16.2	17.3
10	0.00	12.30	0.00	7.2	7.7	8.5	9.1	10.1	12.3	14.9	16.5	17.7	19.7	21.0
11	0.00	14.40	0.00	8.5	9.1	10.1	10.8	12.0	14.4	17.4	19.2	20.6	22.7	24.2
12	0.00	17.60	0.00	10.1	10.8	12.1	13.0	14.5	17.6	21.1	23.2	24.7	27.1	28.8
HJ (cm)
6	0.70	86.40	0.18	59.0	62.3	67.4	70.9	76.2	86.4	96.9	102.7	106.7	112.7	116.6
7	0.64	92.90	0.18	63.9	67.3	72.7	76.4	82.0	92.9	104.3	110.5	114.9	121.4	125.7
8	0.64	98.70	0.18	68.4	71.9	77.5	81.4	87.3	98.7	110.7	117.5	122.1	129.1	133.8
9	0.64	105.80	0.18	73.9	77.6	83.4	87.5	93.7	105.8	118.7	125.9	131.0	138.6	143.7
10	0.64	114.20	0.17	80.2	84.1	90.4	94.7	101.3	114.2	127.9	135.6	141.0	149.1	154.4
11	0.64	120.80	0.17	85.0	89.2	95.8	100.4	107.3	120.8	135.1	143.0	148.5	156.8	162.3
12	0.64	131.20	0.17	92.4	96.9	104.1	109.0	116.5	131.2	146.6	155.2	161.2	170.3	176.3
Agility 5 × 10 (seg)
6	−0.75	29.20	0.12	37.5	36.2	34.4	33.3	31.8	29.2	27.0	25.9	25.2	24.2	23.6
7	−1.18	27.40	0.11	35.0	33.8	32.2	31.1	29.7	27.4	25.5	24.6	24.0	23.2	22.7
8	−1.60	25.80	0.10	32.7	31.6	30.0	29.1	27.8	25.8	24.2	23.4	22.9	22.2	21.8
9	−1.79	24.50	0.10	30.5	29.5	28.1	27.3	26.2	24.5	23.0	22.3	21.9	21.3	20.9
10	−1.86	23.50	0.09	28.8	28.0	26.8	26.0	25.1	23.5	22.1	21.5	21.1	20.6	20.2
11	−1.91	22.90	0.09	27.8	27.0	25.9	25.2	24.3	22.9	21.6	21.1	20.7	20.2	19.9
12	−1.81	21.90	0.08	26.2	25.5	24.6	24.0	23.2	21.9	20.8	20.2	19.9	19.4	19.1
6MWT (m)
6	1.87	493.40	0.10	391.5	405.5	426.2	439.8	459.1	493.4	525.7	542.3	553.3	569.3	579.5
7	2.16	515.30	0.10	402.9	419.0	442.4	457.4	478.5	515.3	549.3	566.6	578.0	594.3	604.7
8	2.39	540.60	0.10	417.5	435.6	461.7	478.2	501.2	540.6	576.3	594.2	606.0	622.8	633.4
9	2.38	560.30	0.10	432.1	451.0	478.2	495.3	519.3	560.3	597.6	616.3	628.6	646.1	657.2
10	1.92	584.10	0.10	456.1	473.9	500.2	517.2	541.4	584.1	624.0	644.5	658.1	677.7	690.2
11	1.32	606.40	0.11	479.1	495.6	520.7	537.4	561.8	606.4	649.9	672.9	688.3	711.0	725.6
12	0.63	623.00	0.11	498.6	513.7	537.1	553.2	577.2	623.0	670.0	695.8	713.4	739.9	757.3

Age	L	M	S	P3	P5	P10	P15	P25	P50	P75	P85	P90	P95	P97
BSA (cm²)
6	−0.03	0.82	0.00	0.69	0.70	0.72	0.74	0.76	0.82	0.89	0.95	0.99	1.08	1.15
7	−0.02	0.90	0.00	0.75	0.77	0.79	0.81	0.84	0.90	0.99	1.05	1.09	1.17	1.24
8	−0.02	0.99	0.00	0.81	0.83	0.86	0.88	0.91	0.99	1.08	1.14	1.19	1.27	1.33
9	−0.01	1.08	0.00	0.88	0.90	0.93	0.96	1.00	1.08	1.18	1.25	1.30	1.38	1.44
10	−0.01	1.19	0.00	0.95	0.98	1.02	1.05	1.10	1.19	1.31	1.37	1.42	1.50	1.55
11	0.00	1.29	0.00	1.01	1.04	1.09	1.13	1.19	1.29	1.41	1.48	1.52	1.60	1.64
12	0.01	1.39	0.00	1.05	1.09	1.16	1.20	1.27	1.39	1.51	1.57	1.62	1.68	1.72
HGSR (kg/f)
6	0.005	5.800	0.003	2.8	3.1	3.6	4.0	4.6	5.8	7.2	7.9	8.5	9.3	9.9
7	0.003	7.100	0.003	3.6	4.0	4.6	5.0	5.7	7.1	8.7	9.6	10.3	11.4	12.1
8	0.003	8.300	0.003	4.5	4.8	5.5	6.0	6.7	8.3	10.2	11.3	12.1	13.3	14.2
9	0.004	10.300	0.003	5.5	6.0	6.8	7.4	8.4	10.3	12.5	13.7	14.6	16.1	17.0
10	0.006	12.900	0.003	7.0	7.6	8.7	9.5	10.6	12.9	15.5	16.9	17.9	19.5	20.5
11	0.008	15.500	0.003	8.6	9.5	10.7	11.6	13.0	15.5	18.3	19.7	20.8	22.3	23.3
12	0.009	17.800	0.002	10.5	11.4	12.8	13.8	15.2	17.8	20.5	21.9	22.9	24.4	25.3
HGSL (kg/f)
6	0.00	5.40	0.003	3.1	3.4	3.7	4.0	4.5	5.4	6.4	7.0	7.4	8.1	8.6
7	0.00	6.50	0.003	3.7	4.0	4.5	4.8	5.4	6.5	7.8	8.6	9.2	10.1	10.7
8	−0.01	7.60	0.003	4.9	5.1	5.5	5.8	6.4	7.6	9.4	10.7	11.8	13.8	15.5
9	0.00	9.40	0.003	5.1	5.6	6.3	6.9	7.7	9.4	11.4	12.6	13.4	14.7	15.6
10	0.01	12.40	0.003	6.2	6.9	8.0	8.8	10.0	12.4	14.9	16.2	17.2	18.6	19.6
11	0.01	15.00	0.003	7.5	8.4	9.8	10.8	12.3	15.0	17.8	19.2	20.3	21.8	22.7
12	0.01	16.70	0.002	8.1	9.4	11.1	12.3	13.9	16.7	19.4	20.7	21.7	23.0	23.8
HJ (cm)
6	1.63	77.10	0.202	42.7	47.8	55.1	59.7	66.1	77.1	87.2	92.3	95.7	100.5	103.6
7	1.22	84.30	0.195	51.8	56.1	62.5	66.8	73.0	84.3	95.3	101.0	104.9	110.6	114.2
8	0.84	92.20	0.186	60.9	64.7	70.6	74.7	80.7	92.2	103.9	110.3	114.6	121.1	125.4
9	0.58	97.40	0.174	67.8	71.2	76.7	80.5	86.2	97.4	109.1	115.6	120.1	126.9	131.4
10	0.55	105.30	0.161	75.6	79.1	84.6	88.4	94.1	105.3	116.9	123.4	127.9	134.7	139.2
11	0.85	114.30	0.148	83.2	87.0	93.0	97.0	103.0	114.3	125.8	132.0	136.2	142.5	146.7
12	1.32	116.90	0.135	85.8	89.9	96.1	100.2	106.1	116.9	127.4	132.9	136.6	142.0	145.5
Agility 5 × 10 (seg)
6	−2.32	29.30	0.109	38.7	37.0	34.7	33.4	31.8	29.3	27.4	26.5	26.0	25.3	24.8
7	−1.91	28.50	0.100	36.0	34.7	33.0	32.0	30.6	28.5	26.7	25.9	25.4	24.7	24.3
8	−1.35	26.90	0.092	32.8	31.9	30.6	29.8	28.7	26.9	25.4	24.6	24.2	23.5	23.1
9	−1.05	25.70	0.085	30.6	29.8	28.8	28.1	27.2	25.7	24.3	23.6	23.2	22.5	22.1
10	−1.03	24.70	0.080	29.1	28.4	27.5	26.9	26.1	24.7	23.4	22.8	22.4	21.8	21.5
11	−1.47	24.10	0.076	28.3	27.7	26.8	26.2	25.4	24.1	22.9	22.4	22.0	21.5	21.2
12	−1.79	23.70	0.073	27.7	27.1	26.2	25.7	24.9	23.7	22.6	22.1	21.7	21.3	21.0
6MWT (m)
6	−0.32	499.80	0.101	415.9	425.4	440.5	451.1	467.4	499.8	535.3	555.8	570.2	592.5	607.6
7	0.87	533.20	0.098	435.9	447.9	466.6	479.3	498.0	533.2	568.8	588.0	601.0	620.4	633.1
8	2.06	556.30	0.097	442.2	458.2	481.7	496.9	518.4	556.3	591.6	609.7	621.6	638.8	649.8
9	2.99	573.90	0.097	440.2	461.5	490.9	508.9	533.4	573.9	609.3	626.8	638.0	654.1	664.1
10	3.63	598.90	0.097	444.8	472.4	508.0	528.8	556.0	598.9	635.0	652.4	663.4	679.0	688.6
11	3.98	607.60	0.094	448.5	478.6	516.0	537.4	564.9	607.6	642.8	659.6	670.2	685.2	694.4
12	4.21	593.70	0.09	442.6	471.6	507.4	527.7	553.7	593.7	626.5	642.1	652.0	665.8	674.3

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[TFN1] HGSR, Right hand grip strength; HGSL, Left hand grip strength; HJ, Horizontal jump; 6MWT, 6-minute walk test; SEE, Standard error of estimation; BMI, Body mass index; TPI, Triponderal index; BSA, Body surface area; X, Mean; SD, Standard deviation.