Relationship of Maximal Oxygen Consumption to Various Components of Body Composition

Abstract

Maximal oxygen consumption and body fat were determined on 28 young, healthy men attached to the U. S. Army Medical Nutrition Laboratory. The circulatory system appeared to be the major limiting factor in maximal O₂ consumption inasmuch as body weight, fat-free weight or fat-free weight minus bone weight accounted for only 35%, 41% and 41%, respectively, of the variability in maximal O₂ consumption. Maximal O₂ consumption expressed in cc/min/kg body weight was significantly affected by the percentage of body fat; however, when expressed as liters per minute or cubic centimeters per minute per kilogram of fat-free weight, it was not significantly affected by the percentage of body fat. Submitted on November 21, 1957