Stronger Legs, Quicker Moves: Why Body Mass Didn't Stand in the Way of Agility

Abstract

This study investigated the mediating effect of body mass index (BMI) on the relationship between leg power and agility among college students enrolled in Physical Activity Towards Health and Fitness (PATHFit) classes on Camiguin Island. Grounded in the Biomechanical Principles of Force and Momentum, which suggest that greater body mass may hinder acceleration despite muscular force, the research examined whether BMI impairs agility by limiting the influence of muscular power. A total of 165 students aged 18 to 25 participated, with measurements taken for BMI (using World Health Organization standards), leg power (using the Sprint Power Test), and agility (using the Illinois Agility Test). A significant negative correlation was found between leg power and agility; however, no significant mediating effect was observed from BMI. While higher BMI was individually associated with poorer agility and greater leg power—possibly due to increased absolute force from higher body mass—it did not account for the overall power-agility link. These findings highlight the critical role of muscular strength in agility performance and suggest that PE interventions should prioritize leg power development over BMI-based categorization. The study advocates for more inclusive and individualized approaches in physical education programming, particularly in under-resourced academic settings, such as Camiguin Island.