Waist circumference vs body mass index in association with cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy men and women: a cross sectional analysis of 403 subjects

Abstract

ObjectiveBody mass index (BMI) is more commonly used than waist circumference as a measure of adiposity in clinical and research settings. The purpose of this study was to compare the associations of BMI and waist circumference with cardiorespiratory fitness.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study of 403 healthy men and women aged 50 ± 8.8 years, BMI and waist circumference were measured. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed from estimated maximal O2 uptake (VO2max), as calculated from a maximal fitness test.ResultsMean BMI (kg/m2) was 27.8 ± 3.7 and 25.5 ± 4.6; and mean waist circumference (cm) 94.1 ± 9.7 and 84.3 ± 10.4 for men and women, respectively. Both men and women reported an average of 2.5 hours of weekly sports related physical activity, and 18% were current smokers. Correlation coefficients between both BMI and waist circumference, and VO2max were statistically significant in men (r = −0.280 and r = −0.377, respectively, p > 0.05 for both) and in women (r = −0.514 and r = −0.491, respectively, p > 0.05 for both). In women, the contribution of BMI to the level of VO2max in a regression model was greater, while in men waist circumference contributed more to the final model. In these models, age, hours of training per week, and weekly caloric expenditure in sport activity, significantly associated with VO2max, while smoking did not.ConclusionThe differences observed between the sexes in the associations of BMI and waist circumference with VO2max support the clinical use of both obesity measures for assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Impact of obesity and Down syndrome on peak heart rate and aerobic capacity in youth and adults

“…Previous evidence indicates that higher degrees of obesity are related to lower VO 2peak in healthy older individuals, as well as young females. Study results from Dagan, Segev, Novikov, and Dankner (2013) suggest that reduced BMI, waist circumference and fat mass with exercise training and diet improved aerobic capacity in older healthy groups, and young females respectively. Similarly, Loftin, Sothern, VanVrancken, O'Hanlon, and Udall (2003) showed that higher body weight is related to the lower HR peak in healthy female individuals.…”

Does selection bias explain the obesity paradox among individuals with cardiovascular disease?

“…The relative risk for cardiovascular events and coronary heart disease was 1.4 (1.3, 1.5) comparing individuals with M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 7 low and high CRF levels (27). As well, CRF is known to be inversely associated with obesity, as obese individuals are more likely to have low CRF (34,35).…”

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Metabolic Syndrome in Postmenopausal African-American Women

“…[3,6,9,11,13,21,22] CRF is a physiological measurement usually quantified as the highest rate of oxygen consumption (VO 2max or VO 2peak ) during a progressive maximal exercise test on a treadmill. [7] Previous research has shown racial differences in CRF between African-Americans and Caucasians with lower CRF levels in African-Americans, particularly African-American women.…”