A Comparative Study of Health-Related Physical Fitness between Mech and Rajbangshi School-Going Girls

Health-related physical fitness is a vital indicator of physical health, functional efficiency, and long-term well-being, particularly during adolescence. Differences in lifestyle, socio-cultural background, and habitual physical activity may influence fitness profiles among various population groups. The purpose of the present study was to compare selected components of health-related physical fitness between Mech and Rajbangshi school-going girls aged 13-15 years from North Bengal, India. Sixty girls (Mech = 30; Rajbangshi = 30) were selected using random sampling techniques. The variables assessed included cardiovascular endurance, body fat percentage, flexibility, and muscular endurance. Cardiovascular endurance was measured using the Cardiovascular Efficiency Test for girls and women, body fat percentage was estimated through skinfold measurements, flexibility was assessed using the sit-and-reach test, and muscular endurance was measured by the one-minute sit-up test. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests were used for data analysis, with the level of significance set at 0.05. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between Mech and Rajbangshi girls in cardiovascular endurance, body fat percentage, and muscular endurance (p> .05). However, a significant difference was observed in flexibility, with Rajbangshi girls demonstrating superior performance compared to Mech girls (p< .05). The findings indicate that while overall health-related fitness levels were largely comparable between the two groups, flexibility differed significantly, possibly due to variations in habitual physical activity and lifestyle patterns. The study highlights the need for targeted flexibility enhancement programs within school physical education curricula, particularly for Mech school-going girls, to promote balanced physical fitness and long-term health outcomes.