Relationships between obesity and the pulse rate at rest and during work in young and older men.

Abstract

1. The relationship between absolute body weight, relative body weight (in percent of normal weight predicted from age and height) percent body fat (determined by densitometry), and pulse rate at rest, and during and after walking on the treadmill was investigated in 45 sedentary young men (Group A), 26 more active young men (Group B), and 82 sedentary middle-aged men (Group C). 2. A significant correlation between resting pulse rate and relative obesity occurred in the sedentary groups A and C, but not in the active group B. 3. During walking, all groups exhibited a highly significant correlation between fat content and absolute and excess pulse rate. Relative and absolute body weight showed a similar relationship to a lesser degree. The correlation declined during recovery. 4. The correlation between fat content and excess work or recovery pulse rate was lowest in group C; this was confirmed in another group of 88 sedentary middle-aged men (Group D). 5. There was no correlation between the pulse rate and relative or absolute body weight during recovery after a step test in group D. 6. The decrease or loss of correlation between body fat and pulse rate with age is discussed.