Nutritions, Exercise, and Musculoskeletal Fitness in Strada Santa Anna Junior High Students

This study aimed to describe the level of musculoskeletal fitness among junior high school students at SMP Strada Santa Anna, East Jakarta, and to analyse its association with physical activity, muscle strength training, nutritional status (BMI-for-age), and macronutrient intake (energy, carbohydrates, protein, and fat). A total of 111 eighth-grade students participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected through interviews using the 2x24-hour food recall, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C), the Muscle-Strengthening Exercise Questionnaire Short Form (MSEQ-short), and anthropometric measurements. Musculoskeletal fitness was assessed by using the Standing Long Jump (SLJ) test, with an average score of 151.43 ± 36.92 cm. Male students scored significantly higher than female students. Musculoskeletal fitness was significantly associated with sex, physical activity, energy intake, carbohydrate intake, and protein intake. No significant association was found with BMI-for-age and fat intake. Among all variables, physical activity showed the strongest correlation. The findings emphasize the importance of promoting healthy habits, such as balanced macronutrient intake and regular anaerobic physical activity. School-based interventions, including nutrition education and lifestyle promotion, are essential to support the improvement of adolescent musculoskeletal fitness.