The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories

Francisco B. Ortega; Kai Zhang; Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez; Mark S. Tremblay; Gregor Jurak; Grant R. Tomkinson; Jonatan R. Ruiz; Katja Keller; Christine Delisle Nyström; Jennifer M. Sacheck; Russell Pate; Kathryn L. Weston; Tetsuhiro Kidokoro; Eric T. Poon; Lucy Joy M. Wachira; Ronald Ssenyonga; Thayse Natacha Q.F. Gomes; Carlos Cristi-Montero; Brooklyn J. Fraser; Claudia Niessner; Vincent O. Onywera; Yang Liu; Li Lin Liang; Stephanie A. Prince; David R. Lubans; Justin J. Lang; Adewale L. Oyeyemi; Adilson Marques; Aidan Gribbon; Anelise Reis Gaya; Antonio García-Hermoso; Arja Sääkslahti; Arunas Emeljanovas; Avery Faigenbaum; Bernadette Nakabazzi; Bojan Leskošek; Boris Popovic; Brendan O'Keeffe; Brian W. Timmons; Brigita Mieziene; Brooklyn Fraser; Caroline Brand; Cecilia Anza-Ramirez; Celia Alvarez-Bueno; Cesar A. Agostinis-Sobrinho; Charles H. Hillman; Claudia Niessner; Clemens Drenowatz; Costan G. Magnussen; Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez; Daniel Berglind; Danilo Rodrigues Pereira da Silva; Dario Colella; David Lubans; David Matelot; Dawn M. Tladi; Diego Augusto Santos Silva; Diego Moliner-Urdiales; Dot Dumuid; Dylan Blain; Edtna Jáuregui-Ulloa; Enrique Pintos-Toledo; Eric T. Poon; Eun Young Lee; Eva Maria Riso; Evelin Mäestu; Farid Bardid; Felicia Cañete; Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez; Gabriela De Roia; Garden Tabacchi; Gareth Stratton; Gavin Sandercock; Georgi Georgiev; Germán Vicente-Rodríguez; Gerson Ferrari; Gil Rosa; Greg Welk; Gregor Jurak; Gregor Starc; Idoia Labayen; Igor Cigarroa; Irene Esteban-Cornejo; Iván Clavel San Emeterio; Ivana Milanović; Janine Clarke; Janusz Dobosz; Jarek Mäestu; Javier Brazo-Sayavera; Jennifer M. Sacheck; Jennifer Servais; Jeremías David Secchi; Jérémy Vanhelst; Jesús Viciana Ramírez; João Magalhães; Johana Soto-Sánchez; Johannes Jaunig; John J. Reilly; Jordan Smith; Jorge Mota; Jose Castro-Piñero; José Francisco López-Gil; Juliah Wambui Githang'a; Júlio Brugnara Mello; Kathleen Janz; Kathryn L. Weston; Kelly Laurson; Kevin Till; Khanyile Dlamini; Konstantinos D. Tambalis; Laura Basterfield; Laura Joensuu; Laurent Béghin; Leandro dos Santos; Lillian Mugisha; Liye Zou; Juan Ricardo López Y. Taylor; Lovro Štefan; Luc Léger; Lucy Joy Wachira; Luís B. Sardinha; Lukas Rubin; Mabliny Thuany; Magdalena Cuenca-García; Mai Chin A. Paw; Mairena Sanchez-Lopez; Maret Pihu; Maria Jose Noriega; María Medrano-Echeverría; Maria Reyes Beltran-Valls; Marie Löf; Marjeta Misigoj-Durakovic; Mark S. Tremblay; Markus Gerber; Maroje Sorić; Matteo Giuriato; Matteo Vandoni; Matthieu Lenoir; Mauro D. Santander; Miguel Peralta; Mikko Huhtiniemi; Mohamed Ahmed Said; Mónika Kaj; Naomi Burn; Nicola D. Ridgers; Nicola Lovecchio; Nicolas Aguilar-Farias; Niels Wedderkopp; Oscar L. Veiga; Pedro Saint-Maurice; Peter Katzmarzyk; Pontus Henriksson; Rachel Colley; Reginald T.A. Ocansey; Reinhold Kliegl; Robinson Ramírez-Vélez; Ronald Ssenyonga; Rowena Naidoo; Russell R. Pate; Ryan McGrath; Saima Kuu; Sanja Salaj; Seryozha Gontarev; Shawnda A. Morrison; Siphesihle Nqweniso; Sitong Chen; Stanley Kagunda; Stephanie A. Prince; Stephen H. Wong; Stevo R. Popovic; Stuart J. Fairclough; Susana Andrade; Susi Kriemler; Tamás Csányi; Taru Manyanga; Tawonga W. Mwase-Vuma; Tetsu Kidokoro; Thayse Natacha Q.F. Gomes; Thordis Gisladottir; Tim Takken; Timo Jaakkola; Timo Lakka; Timothy Olds; Tuija Tammelin; Urs Granacher; Valerie Carson; Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno; Vincent Onywera; Vittoria Carnevale Pellino; Wendy Y. Huang; Xiaojian Yin; Yang Liu; Yi Song; Yi Sun; Yuan Liu

doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012

The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories

Francisco B. Ortega, Kai Zhang, Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez, Mark S. Tremblay, Gregor Jurak, Grant R. Tomkinson, Jonatan R. Ruiz, Katja Keller, Christine Delisle Nyström, Jennifer M. Sacheck, Russell Pate, Kathryn L. Weston, Tetsuhiro Kidokoro, Eric T. Poon, Lucy Joy M. Wachira, Ronald Ssenyonga, Thayse Natacha Q.F. Gomes, Carlos Cristi-Montero, Brooklyn J. Fraser, Claudia NiessnerVincent O. Onywera, Yang Liu, Li Lin Liang, Stephanie A. Prince, David R. Lubans, Justin J. Lang, Adewale L. Oyeyemi, Adilson Marques, Aidan Gribbon, Anelise Reis Gaya, Antonio García-Hermoso, Arja Sääkslahti, Arunas Emeljanovas, Avery Faigenbaum, Bernadette Nakabazzi, Bojan Leskošek, Boris Popovic, Brendan O'Keeffe, Brian W. Timmons, Brigita Mieziene, Brooklyn Fraser, Caroline Brand, Cecilia Anza-Ramirez, Celia Alvarez-Bueno, Cesar A. Agostinis-Sobrinho, Charles H. Hillman, Claudia Niessner, Clemens Drenowatz, Costan G. Magnussen, Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez, Daniel Berglind, Danilo Rodrigues Pereira da Silva, Dario Colella, David Lubans, David Matelot, Dawn M. Tladi, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Diego Moliner-Urdiales, Dot Dumuid, Dylan Blain, Edtna Jáuregui-Ulloa, Enrique Pintos-Toledo, Eric T. Poon, Eun Young Lee, Eva Maria Riso, Evelin Mäestu, Farid Bardid, Felicia Cañete, Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Gabriela De Roia, Garden Tabacchi, Gareth Stratton, Gavin Sandercock, Georgi Georgiev, Germán Vicente-Rodríguez, Gerson Ferrari, Gil Rosa, Greg Welk, Gregor Jurak, Gregor Starc, Idoia Labayen, Igor Cigarroa, Irene Esteban-Cornejo, Iván Clavel San Emeterio, Ivana Milanović, Janine Clarke, Janusz Dobosz, Jarek Mäestu, Javier Brazo-Sayavera, Jennifer M. Sacheck, Jennifer Servais, Jeremías David Secchi, Jérémy Vanhelst, Jesús Viciana Ramírez, João Magalhães, Johana Soto-Sánchez, Johannes Jaunig, John J. Reilly, Jordan Smith, Jorge Mota, Jose Castro-Piñero, José Francisco López-Gil, Juliah Wambui Githang'a, Júlio Brugnara Mello, Kathleen Janz, Kathryn L. Weston, Kelly Laurson, Kevin Till, Khanyile Dlamini, Konstantinos D. Tambalis, Laura Basterfield, Laura Joensuu, Laurent Béghin, Leandro dos Santos, Lillian Mugisha, Liye Zou, Juan Ricardo López Y. Taylor, Lovro Štefan, Luc Léger, Lucy Joy Wachira, Luís B. Sardinha, Lukas Rubin, Mabliny Thuany, Magdalena Cuenca-García, Mai Chin A. Paw, Mairena Sanchez-Lopez, Maret Pihu, Maria Jose Noriega, María Medrano-Echeverría, Maria Reyes Beltran-Valls, Marie Löf, Marjeta Misigoj-Durakovic, Mark S. Tremblay, Markus Gerber, Maroje Sorić, Matteo Giuriato, Matteo Vandoni, Matthieu Lenoir, Mauro D. Santander, Miguel Peralta, Mikko Huhtiniemi, Mohamed Ahmed Said, Mónika Kaj, Naomi Burn, Nicola D. Ridgers, Nicola Lovecchio, Nicolas Aguilar-Farias, Niels Wedderkopp, Oscar L. Veiga, Pedro Saint-Maurice, Peter Katzmarzyk, Pontus Henriksson, Rachel Colley, Reginald T.A. Ocansey, Reinhold Kliegl, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez, Ronald Ssenyonga, Rowena Naidoo, Russell R. Pate, Ryan McGrath, Saima Kuu, Sanja Salaj, Seryozha Gontarev, Shawnda A. Morrison, Siphesihle Nqweniso, Sitong Chen, Stanley Kagunda, Stephanie A. Prince, Stephen H. Wong, Stevo R. Popovic, Stuart J. Fairclough, Susana Andrade, Susi Kriemler, Tamás Csányi, Taru Manyanga, Tawonga W. Mwase-Vuma, Tetsu Kidokoro, Thayse Natacha Q.F. Gomes, Thordis Gisladottir, Tim Takken, Timo Jaakkola, Timo Lakka, Timothy Olds, Tuija Tammelin, Urs Granacher, Valerie Carson, Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno, Vincent Onywera, Vittoria Carnevale Pellino, Wendy Y. Huang, Xiaojian Yin, Yang Liu, Yi Song, Yi Sun, Yuan Liu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is associated with a variety of health outcomes and is a powerful marker of current and future health. However, inconsistencies in tests and protocols limit international monitoring and surveillance. The objective of the study was to seek international consensus on a proposed, evidence-informed, Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery and protocols for health monitoring and surveillance in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. Methods: We conducted an international modified Delphi study to evaluate the level of agreement with a proposed, evidence-based, YFIT of core health-related fitness tests and protocols to be used worldwide in 6- to 18-year-olds. This proposal was based on previous European and North American projects that systematically reviewed the existing evidence to identify the most valid, reliable, health-related, safe, and feasible fitness tests to be used in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. We designed a single-panel modified Delphi study and invited 216 experts from all around the world to answer this Delphi survey, of whom one-third are from low-to-middle income countries and one-third are women. Four experts were involved in the piloting of the survey and did not participate in the main Delphi study to avoid bias. We pre-defined an agreement of ≥80% among the expert participants to achieve consensus. Results: We obtained a high response rate (78%) with a total of 169 fitness experts from 50 countries and territories, including 63 women and 61 experts from low- or middle-income countries/territories. Consensus (>85% agreement) was achieved for all proposed tests and protocols, supporting the YFIT battery, which includes weight and height (to compute body mass index as a proxy of body size/composition), the 20-m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness), handgrip strength, and standing long jump (muscular fitness). Conclusion: This study contributes to standardizing fitness tests and protocols used for research, monitoring, and surveillance across the world, which will allow for future data pooling and the development of international and regional sex- and age-specific reference values, health-related cut-points, and a global picture of fitness among children and adolescents.

Original language	English
Article number	101012
Journal	Journal of Sport and Health Science
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Keywords

Delphi
Experts
Fitness
Protocols
Youth Fitness International Test

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012

Cite this

Ortega, F. B., Zhang, K., Cadenas-Sanchez, C., Tremblay, M. S., Jurak, G., Tomkinson, G. R., Ruiz, J. R., Keller, K., Nyström, C. D., Sacheck, J. M., Pate, R., Weston, K. L., Kidokoro, T., Poon, E. T., Wachira, L. J. M., Ssenyonga, R., Gomes, T. N. Q. F., Cristi-Montero, C., Fraser, B. J., ... Liu, Y. (2025). The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 14, Article 101012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012

@article{cdbd77a44ca942c6b79af4aab8805873,

title = "The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories",

abstract = "Background: Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is associated with a variety of health outcomes and is a powerful marker of current and future health. However, inconsistencies in tests and protocols limit international monitoring and surveillance. The objective of the study was to seek international consensus on a proposed, evidence-informed, Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery and protocols for health monitoring and surveillance in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. Methods: We conducted an international modified Delphi study to evaluate the level of agreement with a proposed, evidence-based, YFIT of core health-related fitness tests and protocols to be used worldwide in 6- to 18-year-olds. This proposal was based on previous European and North American projects that systematically reviewed the existing evidence to identify the most valid, reliable, health-related, safe, and feasible fitness tests to be used in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. We designed a single-panel modified Delphi study and invited 216 experts from all around the world to answer this Delphi survey, of whom one-third are from low-to-middle income countries and one-third are women. Four experts were involved in the piloting of the survey and did not participate in the main Delphi study to avoid bias. We pre-defined an agreement of ≥80% among the expert participants to achieve consensus. Results: We obtained a high response rate (78%) with a total of 169 fitness experts from 50 countries and territories, including 63 women and 61 experts from low- or middle-income countries/territories. Consensus (>85% agreement) was achieved for all proposed tests and protocols, supporting the YFIT battery, which includes weight and height (to compute body mass index as a proxy of body size/composition), the 20-m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness), handgrip strength, and standing long jump (muscular fitness). Conclusion: This study contributes to standardizing fitness tests and protocols used for research, monitoring, and surveillance across the world, which will allow for future data pooling and the development of international and regional sex- and age-specific reference values, health-related cut-points, and a global picture of fitness among children and adolescents.",

keywords = "Delphi, Experts, Fitness, Protocols, Youth Fitness International Test",

author = "Ortega, {Francisco B.} and Kai Zhang and Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez and Tremblay, {Mark S.} and Gregor Jurak and Tomkinson, {Grant R.} and Ruiz, {Jonatan R.} and Katja Keller and Nystr{\"o}m, {Christine Delisle} and Sacheck, {Jennifer M.} and Russell Pate and Weston, {Kathryn L.} and Tetsuhiro Kidokoro and Poon, {Eric T.} and Wachira, {Lucy Joy M.} and Ronald Ssenyonga and Gomes, {Thayse Natacha Q.F.} and Carlos Cristi-Montero and Fraser, {Brooklyn J.} and Claudia Niessner and Onywera, {Vincent O.} and Yang Liu and Liang, {Li Lin} and Prince, {Stephanie A.} and Lubans, {David R.} and Lang, {Justin J.} and Oyeyemi, {Adewale L.} and Adilson Marques and Aidan Gribbon and Gaya, {Anelise Reis} and Antonio Garc{\'i}a-Hermoso and Arja S{\"a}{\"a}kslahti and Arunas Emeljanovas and Avery Faigenbaum and Bernadette Nakabazzi and Bojan Lesko{\v s}ek and Boris Popovic and Brendan O'Keeffe and Timmons, {Brian W.} and Brigita Mieziene and Brooklyn Fraser and Caroline Brand and Cecilia Anza-Ramirez and Celia Alvarez-Bueno and Agostinis-Sobrinho, {Cesar A.} and Hillman, {Charles H.} and Claudia Niessner and Clemens Drenowatz and Magnussen, {Costan G.} and Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez and Daniel Berglind and {da Silva}, {Danilo Rodrigues Pereira} and Dario Colella and David Lubans and David Matelot and Tladi, {Dawn M.} and Silva, {Diego Augusto Santos} and Diego Moliner-Urdiales and Dot Dumuid and Dylan Blain and Edtna J{\'a}uregui-Ulloa and Enrique Pintos-Toledo and Poon, {Eric T.} and Lee, {Eun Young} and Riso, {Eva Maria} and Evelin M{\"a}estu and Farid Bardid and Felicia Ca{\~n}ete and Fernando Rodr{\'i}guez-Rodr{\'i}guez and {De Roia}, Gabriela and Garden Tabacchi and Gareth Stratton and Gavin Sandercock and Georgi Georgiev and Germ{\'a}n Vicente-Rodr{\'i}guez and Gerson Ferrari and Gil Rosa and Greg Welk and Gregor Jurak and Gregor Starc and Idoia Labayen and Igor Cigarroa and Irene Esteban-Cornejo and Emeterio, {Iv{\'a}n Clavel San} and Ivana Milanovi{\'c} and Janine Clarke and Janusz Dobosz and Jarek M{\"a}estu and Javier Brazo-Sayavera and Sacheck, {Jennifer M.} and Jennifer Servais and Secchi, {Jerem{\'i}as David} and J{\'e}r{\'e}my Vanhelst and Ram{\'i}rez, {Jes{\'u}s Viciana} and Jo{\~a}o Magalh{\~a}es and Johana Soto-S{\'a}nchez and Johannes Jaunig and Reilly, {John J.} and Jordan Smith and Jorge Mota and Jose Castro-Pi{\~n}ero and L{\'o}pez-Gil, {Jos{\'e} Francisco} and Githang'a, {Juliah Wambui} and Mello, {J{\'u}lio Brugnara} and Kathleen Janz and Weston, {Kathryn L.} and Kelly Laurson and Kevin Till and Khanyile Dlamini and Tambalis, {Konstantinos D.} and Laura Basterfield and Laura Joensuu and Laurent B{\'e}ghin and Santos, {Leandro dos} and Lillian Mugisha and Liye Zou and Taylor, {Juan Ricardo L{\'o}pez Y.} and Lovro {\v S}tefan and Luc L{\'e}ger and Wachira, {Lucy Joy} and Sardinha, {Lu{\'i}s B.} and Lukas Rubin and Mabliny Thuany and Magdalena Cuenca-Garc{\'i}a and Paw, {Mai Chin A.} and Mairena Sanchez-Lopez and Maret Pihu and Noriega, {Maria Jose} and Mar{\'i}a Medrano-Echeverr{\'i}a and Beltran-Valls, {Maria Reyes} and Marie L{\"o}f and Marjeta Misigoj-Durakovic and Tremblay, {Mark S.} and Markus Gerber and Maroje Sori{\'c} and Matteo Giuriato and Matteo Vandoni and Matthieu Lenoir and Santander, {Mauro D.} and Miguel Peralta and Mikko Huhtiniemi and Said, {Mohamed Ahmed} and M{\'o}nika Kaj and Naomi Burn and Ridgers, {Nicola D.} and Nicola Lovecchio and Nicolas Aguilar-Farias and Niels Wedderkopp and Veiga, {Oscar L.} and Pedro Saint-Maurice and Peter Katzmarzyk and Pontus Henriksson and Rachel Colley and Ocansey, {Reginald T.A.} and Reinhold Kliegl and Robinson Ram{\'i}rez-V{\'e}lez and Ronald Ssenyonga and Rowena Naidoo and Pate, {Russell R.} and Ryan McGrath and Saima Kuu and Sanja Salaj and Seryozha Gontarev and Morrison, {Shawnda A.} and Siphesihle Nqweniso and Sitong Chen and Stanley Kagunda and Prince, {Stephanie A.} and Wong, {Stephen H.} and Popovic, {Stevo R.} and Fairclough, {Stuart J.} and Susana Andrade and Susi Kriemler and Tam{\'a}s Cs{\'a}nyi and Taru Manyanga and Mwase-Vuma, {Tawonga W.} and Tetsu Kidokoro and Gomes, {Thayse Natacha Q.F.} and Thordis Gisladottir and Tim Takken and Timo Jaakkola and Timo Lakka and Timothy Olds and Tuija Tammelin and Urs Granacher and Valerie Carson and Vicente Mart{\'i}nez-Vizca{\'i}no and Vincent Onywera and Pellino, {Vittoria Carnevale} and Huang, {Wendy Y.} and Xiaojian Yin and Yang Liu and Yi Song and Yi Sun and Yuan Liu",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Journal of Sport and Health Science",

issn = "2095-2546",

}

Ortega, FB, Zhang, K, Cadenas-Sanchez, C, Tremblay, MS, Jurak, G, Tomkinson, GR, Ruiz, JR, Keller, K, Nyström, CD, Sacheck, JM, Pate, R, Weston, KL, Kidokoro, T, Poon, ET, Wachira, LJM, Ssenyonga, R, Gomes, TNQF, Cristi-Montero, C, Fraser, BJ, Niessner, C, Onywera, VO, Liu, Y, Liang, LL, Prince, SA, Lubans, DR, Lang, JJ, Oyeyemi, AL, Marques, A, Gribbon, A, Gaya, AR, García-Hermoso, A, Sääkslahti, A, Emeljanovas, A, Faigenbaum, A, Nakabazzi, B, Leskošek, B, Popovic, B, O'Keeffe, B, Timmons, BW, Mieziene, B, Fraser, B, Brand, C, Anza-Ramirez, C, Alvarez-Bueno, C, Agostinis-Sobrinho, CA, Hillman, CH, Niessner, C, Drenowatz, C, Magnussen, CG, Cadenas-Sanchez, C, Berglind, D, da Silva, DRP, Colella, D, Lubans, D, Matelot, D, Tladi, DM, Silva, DAS, Moliner-Urdiales, D, Dumuid, D, Blain, D, Jáuregui-Ulloa, E, Pintos-Toledo, E, Poon, ET, Lee, EY, Riso, EM, Mäestu, E, Bardid, F, Cañete, F, Rodríguez-Rodríguez, F, De Roia, G, Tabacchi, G, Stratton, G, Sandercock, G, Georgiev, G, Vicente-Rodríguez, G, Ferrari, G, Rosa, G, Welk, G, Jurak, G, Starc, G, Labayen, I, Cigarroa, I, Esteban-Cornejo, I, Emeterio, ICS, Milanović, I, Clarke, J, Dobosz, J, Mäestu, J, Brazo-Sayavera, J, Sacheck, JM, Servais, J, Secchi, JD, Vanhelst, J, Ramírez, JV, Magalhães, J, Soto-Sánchez, J, Jaunig, J, Reilly, JJ, Smith, J, Mota, J, Castro-Piñero, J, López-Gil, JF, Githang'a, JW, Mello, JB, Janz, K, Weston, KL, Laurson, K, Till, K, Dlamini, K, Tambalis, KD, Basterfield, L, Joensuu, L, Béghin, L, Santos, LD, Mugisha, L, Zou, L, Taylor, JRLY, Štefan, L, Léger, L, Wachira, LJ, Sardinha, LB, Rubin, L, Thuany, M, Cuenca-García, M, Paw, MCA, Sanchez-Lopez, M, Pihu, M, Noriega, MJ, Medrano-Echeverría, M, Beltran-Valls, MR, Löf, M, Misigoj-Durakovic, M, Tremblay, MS, Gerber, M, Sorić, M, Giuriato, M, Vandoni, M, Lenoir, M, Santander, MD, Peralta, M, Huhtiniemi, M, Said, MA, Kaj, M, Burn, N, Ridgers, ND, Lovecchio, N, Aguilar-Farias, N, Wedderkopp, N, Veiga, OL, Saint-Maurice, P, Katzmarzyk, P, Henriksson, P, Colley, R, Ocansey, RTA, Kliegl, R, Ramírez-Vélez, R, Ssenyonga, R, Naidoo, R, Pate, RR, McGrath, R, Kuu, S, Salaj, S, Gontarev, S, Morrison, SA, Nqweniso, S, Chen, S, Kagunda, S, Prince, SA, Wong, SH, Popovic, SR, Fairclough, SJ, Andrade, S, Kriemler, S, Csányi, T, Manyanga, T, Mwase-Vuma, TW, Kidokoro, T, Gomes, TNQF, Gisladottir, T, Takken, T, Jaakkola, T, Lakka, T, Olds, T, Tammelin, T, Granacher, U, Carson, V, Martínez-Vizcaíno, V, Onywera, V, Pellino, VC, Huang, WY, Yin, X, Liu, Y, Song, Y, Sun, Y & Liu, Y 2025, 'The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories', Journal of Sport and Health Science, vol. 14, 101012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012

The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories. / Ortega, Francisco B.; Zhang, Kai; Cadenas-Sanchez, Cristina et al.
In: Journal of Sport and Health Science, Vol. 14, 101012, 12.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents

T2 - A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories

AU - Ortega, Francisco B.

AU - Zhang, Kai

AU - Cadenas-Sanchez, Cristina

AU - Tremblay, Mark S.

AU - Jurak, Gregor

AU - Tomkinson, Grant R.

AU - Ruiz, Jonatan R.

AU - Keller, Katja

AU - Nyström, Christine Delisle

AU - Sacheck, Jennifer M.

AU - Pate, Russell

AU - Weston, Kathryn L.

AU - Kidokoro, Tetsuhiro

AU - Poon, Eric T.

AU - Wachira, Lucy Joy M.

AU - Ssenyonga, Ronald

AU - Gomes, Thayse Natacha Q.F.

AU - Cristi-Montero, Carlos

AU - Fraser, Brooklyn J.

AU - Niessner, Claudia

AU - Onywera, Vincent O.

AU - Liu, Yang

AU - Liang, Li Lin

AU - Prince, Stephanie A.

AU - Lubans, David R.

AU - Lang, Justin J.

AU - Oyeyemi, Adewale L.

AU - Marques, Adilson

AU - Gribbon, Aidan

AU - Gaya, Anelise Reis

AU - García-Hermoso, Antonio

AU - Sääkslahti, Arja

AU - Emeljanovas, Arunas

AU - Faigenbaum, Avery

AU - Nakabazzi, Bernadette

AU - Leskošek, Bojan

AU - Popovic, Boris

AU - O'Keeffe, Brendan

AU - Timmons, Brian W.

AU - Mieziene, Brigita

AU - Fraser, Brooklyn

AU - Brand, Caroline

AU - Anza-Ramirez, Cecilia

AU - Alvarez-Bueno, Celia

AU - Agostinis-Sobrinho, Cesar A.

AU - Hillman, Charles H.

AU - Niessner, Claudia

AU - Drenowatz, Clemens

AU - Magnussen, Costan G.

AU - Cadenas-Sanchez, Cristina

AU - Berglind, Daniel

AU - da Silva, Danilo Rodrigues Pereira

AU - Colella, Dario

AU - Lubans, David

AU - Matelot, David

AU - Tladi, Dawn M.

AU - Silva, Diego Augusto Santos

AU - Moliner-Urdiales, Diego

AU - Dumuid, Dot

AU - Blain, Dylan

AU - Jáuregui-Ulloa, Edtna

AU - Pintos-Toledo, Enrique

AU - Poon, Eric T.

AU - Lee, Eun Young

AU - Riso, Eva Maria

AU - Mäestu, Evelin

AU - Bardid, Farid

AU - Cañete, Felicia

AU - Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Fernando

AU - De Roia, Gabriela

AU - Tabacchi, Garden

AU - Stratton, Gareth

AU - Sandercock, Gavin

AU - Georgiev, Georgi

AU - Vicente-Rodríguez, Germán

AU - Ferrari, Gerson

AU - Rosa, Gil

AU - Welk, Greg

AU - Jurak, Gregor

AU - Starc, Gregor

AU - Labayen, Idoia

AU - Cigarroa, Igor

AU - Esteban-Cornejo, Irene

AU - Emeterio, Iván Clavel San

AU - Milanović, Ivana

AU - Clarke, Janine

AU - Dobosz, Janusz

AU - Mäestu, Jarek

AU - Brazo-Sayavera, Javier

AU - Sacheck, Jennifer M.

AU - Servais, Jennifer

AU - Secchi, Jeremías David

AU - Vanhelst, Jérémy

AU - Ramírez, Jesús Viciana

AU - Magalhães, João

AU - Soto-Sánchez, Johana

AU - Jaunig, Johannes

AU - Reilly, John J.

AU - Smith, Jordan

AU - Mota, Jorge

AU - Castro-Piñero, Jose

AU - López-Gil, José Francisco

AU - Githang'a, Juliah Wambui

AU - Mello, Júlio Brugnara

AU - Janz, Kathleen

AU - Weston, Kathryn L.

AU - Laurson, Kelly

AU - Till, Kevin

AU - Dlamini, Khanyile

AU - Tambalis, Konstantinos D.

AU - Basterfield, Laura

AU - Joensuu, Laura

AU - Béghin, Laurent

AU - Santos, Leandro dos

AU - Mugisha, Lillian

AU - Zou, Liye

AU - Taylor, Juan Ricardo López Y.

AU - Štefan, Lovro

AU - Léger, Luc

AU - Wachira, Lucy Joy

AU - Sardinha, Luís B.

AU - Rubin, Lukas

AU - Thuany, Mabliny

AU - Cuenca-García, Magdalena

AU - Paw, Mai Chin A.

AU - Sanchez-Lopez, Mairena

AU - Pihu, Maret

AU - Noriega, Maria Jose

AU - Medrano-Echeverría, María

AU - Beltran-Valls, Maria Reyes

AU - Löf, Marie

AU - Misigoj-Durakovic, Marjeta

AU - Tremblay, Mark S.

AU - Gerber, Markus

AU - Sorić, Maroje

AU - Giuriato, Matteo

AU - Vandoni, Matteo

AU - Lenoir, Matthieu

AU - Santander, Mauro D.

AU - Peralta, Miguel

AU - Huhtiniemi, Mikko

AU - Said, Mohamed Ahmed

AU - Kaj, Mónika

AU - Burn, Naomi

AU - Ridgers, Nicola D.

AU - Lovecchio, Nicola

AU - Aguilar-Farias, Nicolas

AU - Wedderkopp, Niels

AU - Veiga, Oscar L.

AU - Saint-Maurice, Pedro

AU - Katzmarzyk, Peter

AU - Henriksson, Pontus

AU - Colley, Rachel

AU - Ocansey, Reginald T.A.

AU - Kliegl, Reinhold

AU - Ramírez-Vélez, Robinson

AU - Ssenyonga, Ronald

AU - Naidoo, Rowena

AU - Pate, Russell R.

AU - McGrath, Ryan

AU - Kuu, Saima

AU - Salaj, Sanja

AU - Gontarev, Seryozha

AU - Morrison, Shawnda A.

AU - Nqweniso, Siphesihle

AU - Chen, Sitong

AU - Kagunda, Stanley

AU - Prince, Stephanie A.

AU - Wong, Stephen H.

AU - Popovic, Stevo R.

AU - Fairclough, Stuart J.

AU - Andrade, Susana

AU - Kriemler, Susi

AU - Csányi, Tamás

AU - Manyanga, Taru

AU - Mwase-Vuma, Tawonga W.

AU - Kidokoro, Tetsu

AU - Gomes, Thayse Natacha Q.F.

AU - Gisladottir, Thordis

AU - Takken, Tim

AU - Jaakkola, Timo

AU - Lakka, Timo

AU - Olds, Timothy

AU - Tammelin, Tuija

AU - Granacher, Urs

AU - Carson, Valerie

AU - Martínez-Vizcaíno, Vicente

AU - Onywera, Vincent

AU - Pellino, Vittoria Carnevale

AU - Huang, Wendy Y.

AU - Yin, Xiaojian

AU - Liu, Yang

AU - Song, Yi

AU - Sun, Yi

AU - Liu, Yuan

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Background: Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is associated with a variety of health outcomes and is a powerful marker of current and future health. However, inconsistencies in tests and protocols limit international monitoring and surveillance. The objective of the study was to seek international consensus on a proposed, evidence-informed, Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery and protocols for health monitoring and surveillance in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. Methods: We conducted an international modified Delphi study to evaluate the level of agreement with a proposed, evidence-based, YFIT of core health-related fitness tests and protocols to be used worldwide in 6- to 18-year-olds. This proposal was based on previous European and North American projects that systematically reviewed the existing evidence to identify the most valid, reliable, health-related, safe, and feasible fitness tests to be used in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. We designed a single-panel modified Delphi study and invited 216 experts from all around the world to answer this Delphi survey, of whom one-third are from low-to-middle income countries and one-third are women. Four experts were involved in the piloting of the survey and did not participate in the main Delphi study to avoid bias. We pre-defined an agreement of ≥80% among the expert participants to achieve consensus. Results: We obtained a high response rate (78%) with a total of 169 fitness experts from 50 countries and territories, including 63 women and 61 experts from low- or middle-income countries/territories. Consensus (>85% agreement) was achieved for all proposed tests and protocols, supporting the YFIT battery, which includes weight and height (to compute body mass index as a proxy of body size/composition), the 20-m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness), handgrip strength, and standing long jump (muscular fitness). Conclusion: This study contributes to standardizing fitness tests and protocols used for research, monitoring, and surveillance across the world, which will allow for future data pooling and the development of international and regional sex- and age-specific reference values, health-related cut-points, and a global picture of fitness among children and adolescents.

AB - Background: Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence is associated with a variety of health outcomes and is a powerful marker of current and future health. However, inconsistencies in tests and protocols limit international monitoring and surveillance. The objective of the study was to seek international consensus on a proposed, evidence-informed, Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery and protocols for health monitoring and surveillance in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. Methods: We conducted an international modified Delphi study to evaluate the level of agreement with a proposed, evidence-based, YFIT of core health-related fitness tests and protocols to be used worldwide in 6- to 18-year-olds. This proposal was based on previous European and North American projects that systematically reviewed the existing evidence to identify the most valid, reliable, health-related, safe, and feasible fitness tests to be used in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years. We designed a single-panel modified Delphi study and invited 216 experts from all around the world to answer this Delphi survey, of whom one-third are from low-to-middle income countries and one-third are women. Four experts were involved in the piloting of the survey and did not participate in the main Delphi study to avoid bias. We pre-defined an agreement of ≥80% among the expert participants to achieve consensus. Results: We obtained a high response rate (78%) with a total of 169 fitness experts from 50 countries and territories, including 63 women and 61 experts from low- or middle-income countries/territories. Consensus (>85% agreement) was achieved for all proposed tests and protocols, supporting the YFIT battery, which includes weight and height (to compute body mass index as a proxy of body size/composition), the 20-m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness), handgrip strength, and standing long jump (muscular fitness). Conclusion: This study contributes to standardizing fitness tests and protocols used for research, monitoring, and surveillance across the world, which will allow for future data pooling and the development of international and regional sex- and age-specific reference values, health-related cut-points, and a global picture of fitness among children and adolescents.

KW - Delphi

KW - Experts

KW - Fitness

KW - Protocols

KW - Youth Fitness International Test

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85212412963&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012

DO - 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012

M3 - Article

C2 - 39577493

AN - SCOPUS:85212412963

SN - 2095-2546

VL - 14

JO - Journal of Sport and Health Science

JF - Journal of Sport and Health Science

M1 - 101012

ER -

Ortega FB, Zhang K, Cadenas-Sanchez C, Tremblay MS, Jurak G, Tomkinson GR et al. The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2025 Dec;14:101012. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012

The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories

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