Development of physical fitness performance in young Swiss men from 2006 to 2015

From 1980 to 2000, physical fitness decreased and body mass index (BMI) increased in the population of many industrialised countries. Little is known about these trends after the year 2000. The present study aimed to investigate physical fitness performance, physical activity (PA) behaviour and BMI of young, male Swiss adults between 2006 and 2015. For this purpose, results from the Swiss Armed Forces mandatory recruitment were used. 306,746 male conscripts provided complete fitness test data, mean±SD (range from 5th to 95th‐percentile): 20±1 (18‐21)yrs., 178±7 (168‐189)cm; 74±13 (58‐97)kg, predicted maximal oxygen consumption of 49.9±4.6 (41.8‐56.9)ml*kg−1*min−1 (Conconi test), 125±58 (43‐232)s in trunk muscle strength test (prone bridge), 2.31±0.24 (1.90‐2.66)m in standing long jump, 6.46±0.73 (5.30‐7.70)m in seated shot put (2kg medical‐ball shot) and 45.6±12.2 (29.9‐66.7)s in one‐leg standing test (sum of both legs; eyes closed after 10s and head tilted back after 20s). In the investigated population, 73.8% fulfilled basic PA recommendations, 46.2% were classified as regularly vigorously active. Performances in aerobic endurance and muscle power did not show secular changes over time. However, core stability performance and PA behaviour increased, while balance ability decreased over this ten‐year period. Average BMI increased by 2.0% between 2006 and 2010 and did not change thereafter. Male Swiss adults are at least as physically fit as they were a decade ago. The secular trends of decreasing physical performances and increasing BMI have stopped, self reported sport participation and leisure time PA have been increased in the observed population over the last ten years