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VSRD-TNTJ, Vol. I (2), 2010, 72-77

RESEARCH ARTICL E RE SE ARCH ARTICLE

Influence of Body Composition on the Dimensions of VO2 Max

1

Jaswant Singh Thakur*, 2Ramesh Chand Yadav and 3Vivek Kr. Singh

ABSTRACT
Background: Both the high body fatness and low aerobic fitness have been shown to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It is still unclear, whether these factors are related to each other or if they are independent risk factors. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of body composition on dimension of VO2 max of obese and non-obese sedentary college men. Objective of study was to assess the relationship between measures of body composition to the dimensions of VO2 max. Methodology: The two samples consisted of 40 obese (>20% body fat) and 40 non-obese (<15% body fat) randomly selected unrelated normal healthy and sedentary collegiate boys aged 19-25 years, taken from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Total body weight was determined by anthropometric methods, VO2 max was measured by Bench Step test by using Astrand and Astrand Nomogram; fat mass and fat free mass were estimated by skinfold thickness. Results: Result indicated that there was association of VO2 max with lean body mass in both obese and non-obese group and only with total body mass in non-obese participant. Insignificant correlation was found between %fat and VO2 max. in both groups i.e. obese and non-obese. Conclusion: The major influence of body weight on VO2 max is explained by lean body weight; %fat does not have any effect on VO2 max. Thus, fatness and VO2 max should be considered independent factors. Keywords: VO2 max; Cardio-respiratory fitness; Lean body mass; Body composition.

INTRODUCTION
Cardio respiratory fitness and body composition are associated with the risk of emergence of cardiovascular diseases. Accordingly, these factors are related to health and relationships existing between the two have been focus of researchers in the field of sports sciences. The incidence of cardiovascular disease is statistically and physiologically related to obesity. For example, the obese individual has a mortality rate from cardiovascular disease is 2 times greater than the individual with an
____________________________ 1 2

Lecturer, Department of Physical Education, C.C.S. University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA. Lecturer, Department of Physical Education, C.S.J.M. University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA. 3 Lecturer, Department of Physical Education, Jaspal Rana Institute of Physical Education, Dehradun, Uttranchal, INDIA. *Correspondence : jaswantlnipe@gmail.com

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average or below average body weight [Fox and Browers, (1989)]. It is considered that VO2 max or maximal aerobic capacity is only a single measure of the functional capacity of the oxygen system or cardio-respiratory system or the oxygen transport system [Koley, (2007)]. Peak VO2 increases with age in both boys and girls, both in absolute terms and with body size and composition accounted for but boy's value are higher than the those of girls even during the prepubertal years [Maffulli et.al., (2001)]. It is estimated that 69% of the differences in max VO 2 scores among individual can be explained simply by differences in body mass 4% by differences in stature and 1% by variations in lean body mass [Wyndham and Hengns, (1969)]. Thus it is not meaningful to compare exercise performance or the absolute value for oxygen consumption among individuals who differ in body size or body composition [Cureton et.al., (1979)]. This has led to common practice of expressing VO2 max in terms of body composition either in relation to body mass, lean body mass or live volume [McArdle and Catch.(1991)]. Both stature and mass are highly correlated with peak VO2 in children and adolescents with coefficients typically in range 0.6-0.8. As the correlation is normally stronger with mass than stature, and as physical activity most often requires the body mass to be moved, it is conventional to accommodate size differences by expressing peak VO2 in ratio with body mass i.e. ml/kg per min. Thus it is assumed, enables fair comparison between individual and or groups differing body mass e.g. children Vs adults boys Vs. girls etc [Amnstrong et.al., (1991)]. Both the high body fatness and low aerobic fitness have been shown to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It is still unclear, whether these factors are related to each other or if they are independent risk factors. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of body composition on dimension of VO2 max of obese and non-obese sedentary college men.

Method and Material

The two samples consisted of 40 obese (>20% body fat) and 40 non-obese (<15% body fat) randomly selected unrelated normal healthy and sedentary collegiate boys aged 19-25 years, taken from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The consent for voluntary participation was obtained. The work was approved by Ethical Committee of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Body Composition
Percentage of body fat was determined by skinfold thickness, recorded at four sites of the body i.e. biceps, triceps, sub scapular and suprailliac and the total corresponding value of skinfold at four sites were referred to the help of converting chart prepared by Durnin and Rahman [Durnin and Rahman (1967)].Total body mass (body weight) was measured with standard weighing machine and recorded into kilogram. Lean body mass was obtained by subtracting total body fat (in kg) from total body weight and recorded into kilogram.

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Prediction of VO2 max

Bench stepping test was used to predict maximal aerobic capacity. It is a standard method to measure one's maximal oxygen uptake using bench stepping sub maximal exercise. Prior to the test, subjects did 5-7 minutes warm up consisting of lower limb muscles stretching and brisk walking. A wooden stepping bench of 16 inch was used along with metronome and stop watch. Metronome was used to monitor the stepping cadence, which was set at 120 beats per minute (30 complete steps per minute). The step test began after a brief demonstration and practice period. The subjects were asked to perform each stepping cycle to a four-step cadence, up-updown-down continuously for 6 minutes. After completion of test, subjects remained standing while pulse rate was measured for 1 minute. Obtained scores of pulse rate were referred to Astrand-Astrand nomogram [Fox and Browers, (1989), Schoenfeld et.al., (1978)] to predict VO2 max.

Statistical Analysis of Data

Descriptive statistics was applied on all data. After determining normal distribution of the test variables, Pearson correlation coefficient were used to identify relationships between test variables. Independent t-test was used to compare mean differences of variables between obese and non-obese groups. SPSS Inc (16.0 version) software was used for all analyses. Table 1 : Characteristics of Participants

Variables

Obese Group (n=40) 24.07 2.52 70.054.52 53.184.90 49.689.98 65.4412.38 3.480.96

Non-obese Group (n=40)

Fat Percentage Total Body Mass (in Kg) Lean Body Mass (in Kg) VO2 max in terms of ml/kg(BM)/min VO2 max in terms of ml/kg(LBM)/min Absolute VO2 max in liter BM: Body Mass, LBM: Lean Body Mass

12.271.58*** 61.786.33*** 54.195.25 56.8111.38*** 64.7714.13 3.511.12

*** indicates p 0.001, when compared to obese groups, Table 2. Coefficient of Correlation (r) between body composition and dimension of VO2 max of obese and non-obese participants

Variables Total Body Weight and VO2 max. (ml/kg (BM)/min) Lean Body Weight and VO2 max. (ml/kg(LBM)/min).

Obese Group -0.07 0.41**

Non-obese Group 0.34* 0.36*

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Body Fat% and absolute VO2 max (in liter) *indicates p 0.05 and ** indicates p 0.01

-0.14

-0.26

RESULTS
Significant correlation was observed in case of total body mass and VO2 max. in terms of ml/kg (LBM)/min in obese subjects. Significant correlation was observed also observed in case of total body weight with VO2 max (ml/kg (BM)/min) and lean body weight with VO2 max (ml/kg (LBM)/min). When various dimensions of VO2 max were compared, significant difference was found between obese and non-obese groups in relation to VO2 max. in terms of ml/kg (BM)/min.

DISCUSSION
An underlying belief suggests that excess fatness accelerated low aerobic capacity. However, through research, relationship between these variables are weak to moderate in obese and non obese subjects. This study examined whether measures of body composition is related maximum aerobic capacity. Overall, our results found no

significant relationship between body fat and VO2 max in case of both obese and none obese subjects. However, positive significant correlation was obtained between lean body mass in both obese and non obese subjects. The probable reason of this observation is that obesity or adipose tissue by no way connected with aerobic potentiality of an individual. In fact lungs and O2 extraction power of muscles finally contribute to aerobic capacity of an individual and the single important measure of such potentiality is VO2 max. Cardio-respiratory fitness represents the functional capacity of heart, blood vessels, lungs and related muscles while individual performing different kinds of physical activities. Body composition the main component of health related fitness refers to the relative amounts to fatty tissue devoid of fat free mass i.e. muscle, bone and water. It is expressed that the individuals maximal oxygen uptake is to relate to the dimensions of body or to various organs. It may be of both theoretical and clinical value to examine whether the maximal oxygen uptake proportional to heart size, muscular mass lung volumes etc. since fatty tissue is metabolically fairly inert but can constitute a large proportion of the body weight it may be important to exclude it when evaluating the oxygen transporting capacity of obese subjects. However, Watnabe [Watnabe et.al., (1994)] and Rump [Rump et.al., (2002)] found strong relations between body fat and VO2 max. Finding of this study is similar with those Kearns [Kearns et al.,(2002)] and Venkata [Venkata et al., (2004)] conflict with those of Rump et.al. It should be noted that in studies where %fat was considered the main factor in determining cardio-respiratory fitness and lean body mass was not considered a determinant of VO2 max, the subjects were older and severely obese. The findings of present study is congruent with findings of Vsetulov [Vsetulov and Bunc (2004)] and Goren [Goran et al.,(2000)]. Aerobic fitness expressed by relative maximal oxygen consumption per kg of body weight, is not influenced by the percent of body fat in obese women. Body cell mass is markedly related to aerobic fitness, expressed by absolute maximal

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oxygen consumption in obese women.

CONCLUSION
The major influence of body weight on VO 2 max is explained by lean body weight; %fat does not have any effect on VO2 max. Fatness and excess body weight do not necessarily imply a reduced ability to maximally consume oxygen, but excess fatness may have mechanically detrimental effect on cardio-respiratory system. Thus, fatness and VO2 max should be considered independent factors.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank Dr. R.N.Dey (Professor, Exercise Physiology), Ms. Laxmi Rawat and Mr. Atul Sinha for their assistance in collecting the VO2 max and body compositional data. We would also like to acknowledge the participants, without whom this study would not have been possible.

REFERENCES
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composition on VO2 max and mmaximal work performance in athletes. Journal Exercise Physiology Online 7(1): 34-39. [13] Vsetulov, E.; Bunc, V. (2004): Effect of body composition on physical fitness and functional capacity in obese women. Casops lkar Ceskch;143 (11):756-760; discussion 760-761. [Article in Czech] [14] Watanabe, K.; Nakadomo, F.; Maeda, K. (1994): Relationship between body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in Japanese junior high school boys and girls. Annals of Physiological Anthropology 13: 167-174. [15] Wyndham, C.H.; Hengns, A.J.A. (1969): Determinants of oxygen consumption and maximum oxygen intake of Caucasians and Bantu males. Int. Z.Angew. Physiol. 27:51.

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