Table 3

Cut-offs for low aerobic fitness in children and adolescents

Author or Institution/year	Method	Sex	Age (year)	Cut-offs (mlO₂/min/kg)
The European Group of Pediatric Work Physiology, 198628	Based on expert judgement	Girls	Adolescents	35.0
		Boys	Adolescents	40.0
The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research (FITNESSGRAM), 200427	Cut-offs were extrapolated from the thresholds established for adults	Girls	10	39.0
			11	38.0
			12	37.0
			13	36.0
			≥14	35.0
		Boys	≥10	42.0
Ruiz et al (2007)29	Cut-offs linked to current risk-based values via ROC analyses	Girls	9–10	37.0
		Boys	9–10	42.1
Lobelo et al (2009)30	Cut-offs linked to current risk-based values via ROC analyses	Girls	12–15	36.0
			16–19	35.5
		Boys	12–15	44.1
			16–19	40.3
Present study (EYHS)	Cut-offs linked to current risk-based values via ROC analyses	Girls	8–11	37.4
			14–17	33.0
		Boys	8–11	43.6
			14–17	46.0