FITNESSWATCHSM - AN INTRODUCTION
A Know-how Developed by
By
Prof.J.P.Verma
Director Centre for Advanced Studies
Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education
Email: vermajprakash@gmail.com
About FitnessWatch
The FitnessWatch is a comprehensive fitness assessment and monitoring system for school going
children and youth. This is a unique system in the world in which health related fitness has been
evaluated by means of single index system using statistical model. The system generates the
tailor-made computerized sheets pertaining to fitness status, problem areas and fitness
prescription based on present status of an individual. This encourages an individual to be in the
healthy fitness zone all the time. Besides this, ‘FitnessWatch’ generates the comparative analysis
sheet of fitness status at two different time periods after following the schedule for each
individual.
‘FitnessWatch’ provides enough motivation to an individual in maintaining healthy body by
assessing their fitness status by means of total fitness score, possible effects of their problem
areas and a modular exercise prescription in different age groups. Total fitness score explains
overall fitness status of an individual. It is not merely an average of the scores on all the fitness
parameters; but has been computed by means of a statistical model assigning different weights to
each of the health related parameters. The reports on possible consequences due to different
levels of fitness zone on each of the parameters makes an individual realize the importance of
improving his/her fitness level on different parameters.
Everybody is encouraged to reach the healthy fitness zone and maintain it for all the parameters
and thus experience the maximum productivity of the body.
FitnessWatch is not merely a fitness monitoring system but also encourages regular physical
activity, making it very enjoyable. Besides testing fitness status, it helps an individual to
continue the exercise program as a lifetime pursuit.
Advantages of FitnessWatch Implementation
One of the main advantages of FitnessWatch, is its easy administration and flexible fitness
prescription schedule for different age groups. Fitness prescription has been provided in a
modular fashion, that is, if you are comfortable with the schedule given in your prescription
sheet; you can also supplement the exercise set to the existing one as per the given guidelines in
the manual. Further, intensity of the workout is also designed in a modular fashion. If you are not
comfortable with the prescribed intensity of workout, you can either switch to lower or higher
intensity workout as per your physical and physiological abilities.
‘FitnessWatch’ has been designed to suit a majority of population with a view to encourage them
to maintain healthy lifestyle for enhancing their productivity level. Since, this system is
applicable for the masses; it focuses on such parameters that are useful for carrying out day-today activities more energetically leaving scope for surplus energy to meet the leisure time
activities at the end of the day.
Importance of FitnessWatch for a Nation
Level of fitness status of the people in a country is the sign of its productivity, so is true in case
of school as well. Since ‘FitnessWatch’ provides Total Fitness Score of the school it gives an
idea about overall fitness status of the children in the school. Implementing ‘FitnessWatch’ in
schools provides long-term view rather than testing, as it is helpful in generating the awareness
of exercise program among the students. School administration can use these consolidated
fitness reports in their school documents to let the people know about the fitness status of school
children as a result of the fitness programme.
At present, many countries do not have their national fitness standards for the children and youth
in different age categories. Even if they do have, it is mostly focused on skill related fitness,
which is useful for sports persons only and not for every individual. In this way FitnessWatch
has a wider scope at grass root level as it is based on health related fitness parameters like cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility as well as fat
percentage. FitnessWatch takes care of those dimensions of fitness, which are essential for
improving the fitness status of everyone in leading a healthy and more productive lifestyle.
An argument can be given that if standards of various healths related parameters have been
developed for any country why it can’t be used for other countries. It is because of the facts that
Fat percentage and Flexibility are race specific and therefore every country must develop its own
standards for different health related parameters for different age and sex categories. The
techniques used in the FitnessWatch can be used to develop such standards for any country.