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Prediction of maximal oxygen intake from anthropometric data

Some observations on pre-adolescent schoolchildren

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Summary

Equations have been developed to predict the maximal oxygen intake (\(\dot V_{O_2 }\) (max) of pre-adolescent schoolchildren from anthropometric data. The analysis is based on a study of 22 boys and 23 girls aged 9–13 years, part of a random sample of Toronto schoolchildren. The 37 x-variates tested in a series of multiple regression equations include measurements of body surface area (BSA, m2), lean body mass (LBM, kg), age (A, months) kneefold thickness (K) arm extension force (AE, kg), trunk flexion force (TF, kg), arm girth (AG, cm), and summated strength index (∑S). The most promising equations, with their respective coefficients of variation (C. V.) are as follows: For boys 0.645 (BSA) + 0.0116 (A) + 0.0925 (K) − 1.085 (C. V. 13.5%) 0.0216 (LBM) + 0.0117 (A) + 0.105 (K) − 1.19 (C. V. 13.6%) −0.0099 (LBM) + 0.0030 (A) + 0.125 (K) + 0.0099 (∑S) − 0.34 (C. V. 9.7%) 0.0468 (AE) + 0.117 (K) + 0.23 (C. V. 11.3%) 0.0605 (AG) + 0.0242 (TF) + 0.065 (K) − 0.30 (C. V. 9.9%) For girls 1.127 (BSA) + 0.0058 (A) + 0.0327 (K) − 0.753 (C. V. 7.3%) 0.0480 (LBM) + 0.0050 (A) + 0.043 (K) − 0.89 (C. V. 8.1%) 0.0384 (LBM) + 0.0035 (A) + 0.043 (K) + 0.0020 (∑S) − 0.63 (C. V. 7.9%)

These equations predict the\(\dot V_{O_2 }\) (max) of the population studied with a greater accuracy than traditional procedures based on the response to submaximum exercise. The anthropometric approach to prediction of aerobic power merits further exploration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physiological Hygiene, School of Hygiene, University of Toronto, Canada

    Roy J. Shephard, C. H. Weese & J. E. Merriman

  2. Dept. of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

    Roy J. Shephard, C. H. Weese & J. E. Merriman

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  1. Roy J. Shephard
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  2. C. H. Weese
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  3. J. E. Merriman
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Shephard, R.J., Weese, C.H. & Merriman, J.E. Prediction of maximal oxygen intake from anthropometric data. Int. Z. Angew. Physiol. Einschl. Arbeitsphysiol. 29, 119–130 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00698022

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00698022

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