English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low cardiorespiratory fitness in young male adults has emerged as an important factor for developing cardiovascular comorbidities later in middle age. Increased body fatness as predicted by waist-to-hip ratio is an additional factor for developing cardiovascular diseases. AIMS: To determine the cardiorespiratory fitness in terms of VO2max by Queen's college step test in young male subjects. To study the relation between waist to hip ratio and cardiorespiratory fitness. METHODS: One hundred young healthy male subjects in the age group of 18 to 25 years were included in this study group. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was measured using standard calibrated instruments. Cardiorespiratory fitness in terms of VO2max was assessed by following the protocol of Queen's College Step Test (QCT). RESULTS: Data was statistically analysed by using Pearson's correlation. There was a significant negative correlation between Waist-to-hip ratio and VO2max (ml/kg/min) (r= -0.418, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results suggest the striking effect of body fat on cardiorespiratory functions. Excessive amount of body fat exerts an unfavourable burden on cardiac function and oxygen uptake by working muscles. In our study WHR has significant negative correlation with VO2max and WHR can be used in clinical settings to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness as it is a rapid and inexpensive method.