Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a pivotal stage for physical, emotional, and social development. Assessing health-related fitness during this period is essential for promoting well-being and identifying athletic potential. Despite its importance, no standardized fitness norms or battery tests exist for Lebanese adolescents. This study aimed to establish gender- and development-specific norms for key health-related fitness components and develop a tailored fitness index score. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 391 Lebanese adolescents (205 boys, 186 girls; aged 15–17 years) assessed health-related fitness components, including cardiorespiratory endurance (beep test), upper body strength (push-ups), core endurance (sit-ups), and flexibility (V sit-and-reach test). The 5D methodology was used to develop performance norms, and MANOVA was employed to analyze gender and developmental stage differences. Results: Boys in late adolescence demonstrated significantly higher upper body strength (p < 0.05) compared to middle adolescents, while girls in late adolescence showed significantly lower cardiovascular endurance than their younger counterparts (p < 0.01). Flexibility showed no significant changes across genders or stages, while age-related improvements were observed in boys' strength and endurance. Conclusion: This study provides the first standardized health-related fitness norms and fitness index score for Lebanese adolescents. The results offer a practical tool for assessing health status and identifying athletic talent, facilitating targeted interventions in educational and sports settings. Future studies should validate the index and explore broader applications.

Keywords

adolescent fitness norms, fitness index, health-related fitness assessment, lebanese adolescents, developmental stage fitness evaluation.