OBJECTIVE

This study examined temporal trends in physical fitness among preschool children aged 3-5 years from the Macao Special Administrative Region, China between 2002 and 2020.

METHODS

Representative repeated cross-sectional physical fitness data were collected in 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 ( = 4514). Body size (height, weight, and chest, waist and hip circumferences) and physical fitness (2x10-m shuttle run, standing long jump, walking balance, two-leg continuous jump, overhead throw, and sit-and-reach) were objectively measured. Trends in means were calculated using general linear models. Models were adjusted for gender, age, height, and weight. Trends in distributional characteristics were calculated as the ratio of the coefficients of variation and described visually.

RESULTS

We found significant but small increases in height, weight, and chest circumference (standardised effect size [ES] = 0.27-0.42), a significant moderate increase in hip circumference (ES = 0.59), and a negligible trend in waist circumference. Physical fitness trends were conflicting, with negligible to small declines in throwing (ES = -0.14) and balance (ES = -0.32) performance, and negligible to small improvements in other measures (ES = 0.19-0.34). We found negligible trends in distributional variability and differing trends in distributional asymmetry.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these findings suggest modest growth and development among Macao preschoolers over the past two decades. Our findings also highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring to support physical fitness and overall health in early childhood. Continuous screening and monitoring are crucial for identifying trends and informing future health initiatives.