A comparison of physical fitness between Igloolik inuit and Volochanka nGanasan

Physical characteristics, muscle strength, and predicted aerobic power were compared in two circumpolar populations aged 20-49 years at different stages in acculturation to a "modern" sedentary life-style: the Inuit of Igloolik (110 males, 80 females tested in 1989-90) and the nGanasan of Volochanka (29 males, 25 females tested in 1992-3). Both populations show short stature but normal body mass. Skinfold thicknesses (average of triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac) of the male Inuit (mean 10-11 mm, rising with age to 15 mm) are now much greater than in previous surveys, reflecting adoption of a mechanized, sedentary life-style. Recent estimates from Siberia suggest continuing substantial daily energy expenditures by the men but not the women of this region, and averaged values for the three skinfolds in the nGanasan males (mean 7-8 mm) are still low. In women, both Inuit (mean skinfolds 15 mm, rising to 29 mm with age) and nGanasan (mean 19 mm, rising to 25 mm) are now relatively obese. Compared to the nGanasan, male Inuit have greater handgrip force (probably due to snowmobile operation), but poorer knee extension strength (probably because they now do little walking through snow). In contrast, older nGanasan women have less knee extension strength than the Inuit (probably because the latter still carry babies on their backs). The aerobic power of both Inuit and nGanasan (mean of 48, declining with age to 38-40ml/[kg.min] in males, mean of 38-45 declining with age to 33-37 ml/[kg.min] in females) still corresponds to that of a moderately active urban population. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.