Which Body Fat Anthropometric Indicators are Most Strongly Associated with Maximum Oxygen Uptake in Adolescents?

Abstract

Background: The relationship between maximum consumption of oxygen and indicators of body composition is important due in increasing the chance of developing cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between body fat anthropometric indicators (BMI, WC, WHtR, CI, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, suprailiac skinfold) with VO2max and estimate the predictive ability of anthropometric indicators for the VO2max variation in adolescents. Methods: The study included 879 adolescents (14 - 19 years) and was carried out in southern Brazil. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness test (mCAFT). Independent variables were: body mass index, waist circumference, waist /height ratio, conicity index (CI), triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, suprailiac skinfold, sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds and sum of triceps, subscapularis and suprailiac skinfolds. Analyses were controlled for sociodemographic variables, physical activity and sexual maturation. Results: With the exception of CI for girls, all anthropometric indicators were associated with VO2max of adolescents in both sexes (P < 0.01). The sum of the three skinfolds obtained the highest explanatory power (21% and 23% for males and females, respectively). Conclusions: Only CI for girls did not explain the VO2max variation in adolescents, and the sum of the three skinfolds was the indicator that best predicted the VO2max variation in adolescents.