Examining the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and body weight status: empirical evidence from a population-based survey of adults in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide. Meanwhile, obesity has been recognized as a global epidemic. This study aims to examine the extent to which cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with body mass among adult males and females in Taiwan. MaTERIALS AND METHODS: A nationally representative dataset consisting of 68,175 adults aged 18-60, including 31,743 males and 36,432 females, was used. Several multivariate regression models were used to investigate the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and body weight status, after controlling for adults' sociodemographic status.


RESULTS
A one-unit increase in the BMI lowered the cardiorespiratory fitness score by 0.316 and 0.368 points for adult males and females, respectively. Among adult males, compared to those of normal weight, adult males who were underweight, overweight, or obese had a lower cardiorespiratory fitness score by 1.287, 0.845, and 3.353 points, respectively. Similar results could be found in female samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The overweight and obese adults had much lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness as compared to their normal weight counterparts. Given the upward trend in the prevalence of overweight and obesity, it is important to help overweight and obese people to become more fit and reach their healthy weight.
Undergraduate Academic Affairs Division, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Tai-Hsiung
TH
Hung
Department of Economics, Shih Hsin University, Taipei 11645, Taiwan.
Pei-An
0000-0001-6642-6598
PA
Liao
Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Hung-Hao
HH
Chang
Department of Bio-Industry Communication and Development, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Roosevelt Road Section 4, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Jiun-Hao
0000-0001-7861-0341
JH
Wang
Office of Physical Education, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
Min-Chen
MC
Wu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015995:Prevalence; D013624:Taiwan