[Anthropometry and cardiorespiratory fitness of military men in active duty, Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze differences in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference according to cardiorespiratory fitness in active military men.


METHODS
The study sample comprised 50,523 active military men of the Brazilian army. Anthropometric measures (body mass, height, and waist circumference) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) information, estimated in a 12-min run, were obtained in a fitness test in 2001.


RESULTS
Subjects' age ranged between 18 and 52 years, but most were young (mean+/-SD 25.8+/-6.6 years). Cardiorespiratory fitness varied from 22.2 to 82.5 mL.O2.kg(-1).min(-1). Waist circumference mean values were significantly lower in those subjects in the highest fitness level compared to those in the lowest level (p<0.001) even after adjusting for age, BMI, and both together.


CONCLUSIONS
For the same BMI, military men with better cardiorespiratory fitness have significantly lower waist circumference measures compared to those with lower fitness. These findings suggest that military with better physical fitness have lower abdominal fat accumulation.
Oliveira
Eduardo de Almeida Magalhães
Ede A
Escola de Educação Física do Exército, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. c47@globo.com
Anjos
Luiz Antonio dos
LA
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*