INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG FOOD-INTAKE, SOMATIC TRAITS, AND PHYSICAL-FITNESS IN 10.5-YEAR-OLD TO 15.5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN FROM EASTERN POLAND

The aim of the study was to establish the relationships between energy intake and dietary quality with somatic variables and physical fitnes s. Energy intake and nutrition quality were assessed from 24-hr dietar y recall questionnaires, and physical fitness was measured by applying the EUROFIT tests. Interrelationships between all those variables (si mple, partial, and multiple correlation coefficients) were computed fr om standardized values. The somatic and physical fitness variables rel ated more strongly on the nutrition quality than on the energy intake. Well-nourished children were taller, heavier, and more physically fit than the poorly nourished ones. We believe that dietary quality affec ted physical fitness indirectly by influencing somatic development. En ergy intake did not contribute significantly to the total variance of the physical fitness factor.