Secular trends in physique and physical fitness in Japanese students during the last 20 years.

The secular trend of increase in physical size of children has often been reported. Children today are bigger than before, but there is a question whether their physical fitness has improved as well. Methodological differences make it difficult to compare older and newer data. Data are presented from the tests and measurements of physical fitness of collage students measured once a year from 1964 to 1987. Identical methods of measurement were used throughout. Sample sizes are of about 500-2,300 for each year, and year to year changes are discussed. Height, weight and chest grith measurements increased from 1964 to 1987 by 4.4 cm, 5.3 kg, and 3.7 cm, respectively, and their regression coefficients for the years are .15, .24, and .15, respectively. The rate of increase of height is greater in the first half of these years. Vital capacity, standing broad jump, and 100 m dash records improved, but both right and left grip strength decreased. Back strength, ball throwing, and push-up performance did not change significantly. The results show that the size of young adults has increased, but that their physical fitness does not always follow a similar course.