[Comparison of 2 methods of determining excessive body weight in relation to spirometric indicators]

In a sample of the male population (1087 men) aged 25-60, who made hard physical labour, groups of normal body mass and overweight were isolated. The overweighted group had a body weight of 125% of suitable body mass (according to Lorentz). Overweighted men were divided into two groups: a) with excessively developed muscular tissue, b) with excessively developed adipose tissue. This division was based on two indices: W--including height, present body mass and age, Wot--including height, present body mass and skin-folds thickness. In these subgroups the values of spirometric indices were studied and VC and FEV1 of all overweighted men and those of normal body mass were compared. In the case of W index the VC and FEV1 values of muscular men and fat men were practically the same and very near to the values of all those overweighted but lower than the values of men with normal body mass. In the case of Wot index the following tendencies were observed: muscular men had higher VC and FEV1 values than fat men and all those overweighted; these values were similar to those of men with normal body mass. fat men had significantly lower VC and FEV1 values than overweighted men and those with normal body mass.