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  • Original Article
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Waist circumference and BMI are independently associated with the variation of cardio-respiratory and neuromuscular fitness in young adult men

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 962–969 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To test two hypotheses: (1) cardiorespiratory (CRF) and neuromuscular (NMF) fitness is associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), independent of each other and of leisure-time physical activity; (2) individuals with high CRF and NMF have lower WC for a given BMI, compared with those with low CRF and NMF.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

Men participating in refresher training organized by the Finnish Defence Forces.

Participants:

A total of 951 men (mean age 29.1, s.d. 4.2 years; BMI 25.3 kg/m2, s.d. 3.8; WC 91, s.d. 11 cm).

Main outcome measures:

Body mass index, WC, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), height of vertical jump, number of push-ups and sit-ups during a 1-min test, static back extension endurance, isometric grip strength, self-reported leisure-time vigorous physical activity. Multiple linear regressions were used to explain the variation in fitness.

Results:

Waist circumference had significant (P<0.001) negative association with all test results (standardized beta coefficients from −0.23 to −0.77), except for grip strength. Body mass index had significant negative association with VO2max (−0.12; P<0.05), but positive association (P<0.01) with grip strength (0.28), vertical jump (0.21) and push-ups (0.55). For a given BMI, the estimated WC was highest among those with the poorest results for VO2max, vertical jump, sit-ups and push-ups.

Conclusions:

Despite stronger isometric grip strength, the functional muscle fitness of the upper body, trunk and lower extremities is impaired in individuals with abdominal obesity. Although the known loss of CRF is a serious consequence of obesity, the deterioration of NMF deserves increased attention.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Scientific Committee for National Defence. We are grateful to Matti Pasanen, MSc, The UKK Institute, for valuable statistical advice and for critical comments on our paper, and to Kari Keskinen, PhD, for sharing the results from Fitware validation study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland

    M Fogelholm, J Malmberg & J Suni

  2. Research Unit, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere, Finland

    M Fogelholm

  3. The Training Division of The Defence Staff, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland

    M Santtila

  4. Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    H Kyröläinen

  5. Research Institute of Military Medicine, Central Military Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    M Mäntysaari

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  1. M Fogelholm
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  2. J Malmberg
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Correspondence to M Fogelholm.

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Fogelholm, M., Malmberg, J., Suni, J. et al. Waist circumference and BMI are independently associated with the variation of cardio-respiratory and neuromuscular fitness in young adult men. Int J Obes 30, 962–969 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803243

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