Abstract
This study aimed to examine changes of the physical fitness of third grade male students enrolled in the National College of Technology after 1985. A total of 3,241 males took a physical fitness test that included 4 physique and 12 physical fitness and motor ability tests developed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science, and Technology of Japan. Data of 2,611 males who participated in all tests were used for analysis. To examine the annual change over 20 years, single regression analysis and a test of mean difference (t-test) between the first (1985 - 1989) and last (2000 - 2004) periods were performed.
Although there was no large difference in physique (growth in length and mass) between both periods, the proportion of students with a tendency for obesity was significantly higher in the last period. Muscular strength, muscular power, flexibility, muscular endurance, and cardiorespiratory endurance (overall physical fitness except for agility) decreased with time. Male students at the National College of Technology should make efforts to control the incidence of obesity and to improve their physical fitness.
