title: Correlation of respiratory muscle strength with anthropometric variables of normal-weight and obese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate anthropometric data and respiratory muscle strength (RMS) of normal-weight and obese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 103 sedentary women, divided into two groups: 57 obese and 46 normal-weight women. Waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were measured to calculate the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and maximal respiratory pressures (Pmax) were determined using an analog vacuum manometer to ± 300 cm H2O. Body composition was measured using tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis, in addition to the Student t test for independent samples, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis showed significant differences in Pmax of normal-weight women (PImax = -73.04±16.55 cm H2O and PEmax = 79.67±18.89 cm H2O) and obese women (PImax = -85.00±21.69 cm H2O and PEmax = 103.86±20.35 cm H2O). Anthropometric and manometric variables showed no significant correlation in both groups. When analyzing the influence of bioelectrical impedance on RMS, a positive correlation was observed between lean body mass and PImax.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bioelectrical impedance and obesity showed a direct correlation with RMS. WC and WHR had no influence on RMS of obese women; however, a relevance to risk factors for associated diseases was observed. We believe that these results are due to an adjustment to excess body weight over the years.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica de Brasília (Campus I), Brasília, DF, Brazil. tareides@gmail.com
authors.forename: Thais Ribeiro
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Tiago Pessoa
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Patrícia Lúcia
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Gontijo
authors.forename: Harley Alves de
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Flávia Perassa de Faria
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Orlando Pereira
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Florêncio Figueiredo
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti Neto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013147:Spirometry; D055815:Young Adult