title: Comparison of maximal oxygen consumption between obese black and white adolescents.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) differed between clinically obese black and white children and if a difference existed to determine whether it was related to hematological profiles and/or physical activity/inactivity levels. Twenty-three black and 21 white adolescents were matched for age, BMI, and Tanner stage (II-V). Body composition was determined by DEXA and CT scan. Daily physical activity/inactivity was assessed by questionnaire. VO2max was assessed using the Bruce treadmill protocol. Black participants had significantly lower VO2max and VO2maxFFM values when compared with white adolescents (26.1 +/- 4.2 versus 29.9 +/- 3.1 mL . kg(-1) . min(-1); 48.3 +/- 8.8 versus 55.6 +/- 5.2 mL . kgFFM(-1) . min(-1), respectively). Black adolescents also had significantly lower Hb concentrations ([Hb]) than white children (12.7 +/- 1.3 versus 13.4 +/- 0.7 g/dL). Black adolescents were more physically inactive than their white peers. VO2max correlated with [Hb] for the combined groups. Obese black adolescents had lower VO2max compared with white children and this difference was explained, in part, by the lower [Hb] observed in the black participants. Further investigations should study Hb flow rate (a function of [Hb] . maximal cardiac output) and physical activity/inactivity patterns in obese black and white children as it relates to VO2max.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA 17815, USA. jandreac@bloomu.edu
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Andreacci
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dubé
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Aaron
authors.forename: Curt B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Silva A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Arslanian
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D044383:Black People; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D044465:White People