PERCENT FAT MASS AND BODY MASS INDEX AS CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS PREDICTORS IN YOUNG ADULTS

The present study aimed to analyze the association between body fatness measures, i.e. body mass index (BMI) and percent fat mass (% FM) with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in young adults. Seventy five undergraduate students aged 19-21 years were included in this cross sectional study. Body composition was assessed by tetra polar Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method, and CRF was determined as VO2 max level by conducting Balke test and flexibility by sit-and-reach test. Regression tests were performed to assess the associations between the body fatness measures and CRF. The mean (SD) % FM and BMI were 25.6 (8.3) % and 22.4 (4.2) kg/m(2), respectively. Both BMI and % FM were inversely associated with VO2 max and flexibility. The associations of % FM with each CRF measure were stronger (% FM-VO2 max: R-2=0.45, p<0.0001; % FM-flexibility: R-2=0.16, p<0.0001) than those of BMI (BMI-VO2 max: R-2= 0.12, p=0.002; BMI-flexibility: R-2=0.07, p<0.0001). Including gender as a variable predictor greatly improved almost all associations. We suggest that %FM is a better predictor for VO2 max than BMI Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationships of body fatness measures adjusted for potential confounding factors with CRF measures other than VO2 max.