Exercise Type, Physical Activity Level And Bmi: Association With Cardiorespiratory Fitness In Adolescents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To verify the association between type of exercise, physical activity level and body mass index (BMI) with cardiorespiratory fitness in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: Descriptive correlational study, conducted with 350 adolescents (16.26 ± 0.66 years old), from Curitiba, Brazil. Gender, age, type of exercise (sport practice, other type of exercise practice, or not engaged in any type of physical exercise) and physical activity level (at least 420 minutes a week) were evaluated through self-reported questionnaires. The BMI was calculated using kg/m2 equation. The pacer physical test was applied to evaluate the cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max). Poisson regressions, with robust variance, adjusted for gender and age, were calculated to verify the variables associated with VO2max, adopting p<0.05. RESULTS: Adolescents who practiced sports had a 2.04 times higher prevalence of having VO2max in the healthy zone (PR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.21-3.44) than those who did not exercise. The VO2max of adolescents that practice another type of physical exercise did not differ from those not engaged in any type of physical exercise. Adolescents classified as sufficiently active had a 1.56 times higher prevalence of being in the healthy zone for VO2max (PR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.02-2.41) than those who were classified as insufficiently active. BMI showed no significant associations with VO2max. CONCLUSION: Adolescents practicing sports had better levels of cardiorespiratory fitness than those who practiced other types of physical exercise and those who did not exercise at all. Additionally, adolescents who achieved adequate levels of physical activity had better levels of cardiorespiratory fitness.