Comparison of VO2max in obese and non-obese young Indian population

Incidence of obesity in early life is increasing nowadays because of faulty food habits and lack of exercise. This study was aimed to find out whether obesity affects cardiorespiratory efficiency of young adults. As VO2max is the most accepted indicator of cardiorespiratory efficiency it was compared in 30 obese and 30 non-obese subjects aged around 18-20 years. VO2mx was estimated by Queen's college step test. Various other parameters measured and calculated are weight, height, BMI, skin fold thickness, percentage body fat, lean body mass, fat mass. The results showed that cardiorespiratory efficiency (absolute VO2max & VO2max/kg lean body mass) was not affected (P > 0.05) in obese group in both sexes. Ability to do exhausting work (VO2max/kg body weight) was less in obese group (P = 0.001) compared to non-obese group & in obese males (P < 0.01) as compared to non-obese males. Percentage body fat (r = -0.416), triceps skin fold thickness (r = -0.427) and calf skin fold thickness (r = -0.381) strongly correlate to VO2max/kg body weight. Therefore the exercise programs can be best designed to increase caloric expenditure and thus to decrease body fat rather than to improve aerobic fitness.