Abstract

Author(s): Camilo URRA ALBORNOZ1, Rubén VIDAL ESPINOZA2, Rossana G

Introduction: Aerobic fitness is considered a health indicator that is related to body fat. Diet, level of physical activity, sedentariness and psychological health could influence this relationship.

Objective: To relate aerobic fitness with five indicators of body fat in adolescents of both sexes.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 200 adolescents between 14 and 17 years of age (140 males and 60 females). The selection of the sample was non-probabilistic (quotas). Anthropometric measurements were evaluated (weight, height, waist circumference), adiposity indexes were calculated (body mass index, weight index, waistheight index, and fat mass). Aerobic fitness was evaluated by means of the 20m shuttle run test (L/min-1 and mL·kg-1·min-1). The classification was made from the relative VO2max according to age and sex: Very low (p80).

Results: In men, significant differences were observed between the categories of very high and high vs. very low and low aerobic fitness in all indicators of body fat (p<0.05). In women the differences were significant between very high aerobic capacity with low and very low (p<0.05), and high vs very low aerobic capacity (p<0.05). The associations were negative in five indicators of adiposity in men (BMI, PI, WC, WHIR and FM, R2= 16 to 19%) and in four indicators of adiposity in women (BMI, PI, WC and WHIR, R2= 16 to 21%).

Conclusion: It was demonstrated negative relation between aerobic aptitude (VO2max) and anthropometric indicators of body adiposity, besides, adolescents classified with high levels of maximum oxygen consumption reflected low values of body adiposity.