JNSS 2026, 17(1):18-32 | DOI: 10.32725/jnss.2026.013

Body composition, motor performance, and reaction performance in lower secondary school pupils in Trnava, Slovakia: a cross-sectional study

Viktória Vojteková^{1, *}, Marek Majdan ORCID...^{1, 2}, Eva Nemčovská³, Juliana Melichová ORCID...^{1, 2}, Martin Rusnák ORCID...^{1, 2}

¹ Trnava University in Trnava, Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, Department of Public Health, Trnava, Slovak Republic

² Trnava University in Trnava, Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, Department of Public Health, Institute for Global Health and Epidemiology, Trnava, Slovak Republic

³ City of Trnava, Office of the Mayor, Second Deputy Mayor, Trnava, Slovak Republic

Introduction: Physical fitness and health-related movement indicators are important determinants of children's health, influencing body composition, motor abilities, and long‑term disease risk. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate associations and odds of selected outcomes related to body composition, motor performance, and reaction performance among lower secondary school pupils in Trnava.

Methods: A cross‑sectional study of 444 pupils aged 11-16 years included anthropometric measurements and motor and reaction tests. Multiple logistic regression was applied with a significance level of p < 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Obesity was identified in 11% of pupils, low handgrip strength in 7%, and slower reaction performance in 21% of children. Obesity odds increased significantly with higher body fat mass (OR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.60-3.27; p < 0.0001) and decreased with age. Low handgrip strength was associated with higher body fat percentage (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.39-2.07; p < 0.0001), while girls had lower odds of low handgrip strength than boys (OR = 0.01; 95% CI: 0.0009-0.07; p < 0.001). Slower reaction performance was associated with lower skeletal muscle mass (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.90-1.00; p < 0.05) and poorer performance in the tapping test (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99; p < 0.001), with boys showing higher odds (OR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.80; p < 0.01).

Conclusion: The findings highlight significant associations between body composition, motor performance, and reaction performance. They emphasise the need to support physical fitness, motor competence, and active school environments from an early age.

Keywords: Adolescents; Body composition; Children; Physical fitness; Reaction performance

Grants and funding:

The research was supported by the City of Trnava through the municipal programme for the development of physical activity and sport ("Trnava v pohybe" - "Trnava in Motion"), implemented under programme 10 (Youth and Sport), subprogramme 10.1 (Sport Activities). The programme has been implemented since 2021 as part of the city's long-term development activities in this field, and the present study is based on data collected in 2023-2024.

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: March 2, 2026; Revised: June 1, 2026; Accepted: June 19, 2026; Prepublished online: June 23, 2026; Published: June 26, 2026  Show citation