BMI, fat percentage and VO2max in college female staff

Low levels of physical activity and cardio respiratory fitness are both associated with higher risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality. The purpose of this study is to examine obesity and fitness of the female staff of Ardebil Azad University in the northwest of Iran.

Thirty seven staff (medium age: 32.97+/-5.81 year, height: 158.21+/-5.88 cm, Body Mass Index [BMI]: 26.59+/-4.02 kg/m(2)) of Ardebil Azad University participated in this study voluntarily. Primary measurements of interest in the present study were height, BMI, subcutaneous skin folds, and cardio respiratory fitness determined by 1 609 meter (one mile) walk test.

The subjects of the present study are more obese than some other population (fat percentage: 28.68+/-5.33) and cardio respiratory fitness of them is rather low (VO(2max): 33.43+/-6.90 mL/kg/min).

Social/lifestyle factors such as the level of education, marital status, exercise, dietary and smoking habits may be related to overweight/obesity and cardio respiratory fitness in female staff of Ardebil Azad University.