Anthropometric indicators of body fat as discriminators of low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents

Prediction of maximal oxygen uptake based on anthropometric indices in Iranian male adults

BACKGROUND

Assessment of maximal oxygen consumption is important in both general community and occupational settings. Validity and reliability tests are needed to indicate the functionality of the cardiopulmonary system.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to establish a maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) prediction model using anthropometric and demographic variables for young adults in Iran.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 64 healthy young men aged 19-29 years. Oxygen consumption was measured directly and the prediction models to estimate VO2max were determined by multiple linear regression. The accuracy of the prediction models was considered using regression coefficient (R), coefficient of determination (R2), and standard error of estimate (SEE).

RESULTS

The average VO2max was 44.02±4.31 ml/kg/min. Significant correlations were found between the measured VO2max and the anthropometric and demographic variables (r = 0.16-0.86, P < 0.05). Three significant regression models with acceptable accuracy were developed (R2 = 0.67-0.71, SEE = 3.19-3.21).

CONCLUSION

The predictive models consisted of 3-5 variables as significant predictors of VO2max and had acceptable accuracy for Iranian young adults. The proposed models are a simple and valid tool that can be used to estimate the VO2max in the field and in laboratory settings.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity among Children and Adolescents: 3-Year Longitudinal Study in Brazil

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) levels over 36 months on the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of children and adolescents. This was a longitudinal study carried out from 2016 to 2019 with 127 children and adolescents (82 males and 45 females) aged 13.5 ± 1.2 years at baseline. The 20 m shuttle run test (20 mSRT) was used to predict CRF. The questionnaires PAQ-C and PAQ-A were used to investigate PA. The 2 × 4 repeated measures ANCOVA was used, and the significance level was p ≤ 0.05. There was a linear trend in the interaction between level of PA and CRF throughout the 36-month study period in both sexes (males-distance covered: F1.78 = 4.567; p = 0.04; VO_2max: F1.78 = 5.323; p = 0.02; females-distance covered: F1.41 = 6.989; p = 0.01; VO_2max: F1.41 = 6.585; p = 0.01). Physically active males showed a gradual increase in CRF throughout the analyzed period. For females, CRF remained constant in the first 24 months, showing a slight increase only after 36 months in physically active ones. The findings of this study reinforce the importance of PA throughout childhood and adolescence to improve CRF.