Nutrition : an influencing factor in health-related fitness

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between Nutrition and Health-related fitness in Maltese children. It tries to show evidence that eating habits may be one of the factors why Maltese children do not compare favourably with their European peers in Health-Related Fitness. The first part of this study gathers thoughts and beliefs of various authors. This helps to identify what is meant by fitness and by proper nutrition. This study is also a parallel study with research conducted by Aquilina (1999), in which he found that Maltese children do not compare well in Health-Related Fitness with their European peers. He gave two probable reasons why: lack of physical activity and/ or lack of proper nutrition. The concluding chapter provides some practical suggestions and recommendations for an interaction between nutrition and physical activity in Maltese Secondary schools.