title: Cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in postmenopausal women.
abstract: The object of the study was to analyze the relationship between aerobic fitness and body composition in postmenopausal women. We hypothesized that postmenopausal women that had higher adiposity had lower cardiorespiratory capacity, regardless of the characteristics of menopause. The sample included 208 women (57.57 ± 6.62 years), whose body composition and the basal metabolic rate were evaluated by octopolar bioimpedance (InBody 720) and the oxygen uptake by the modified Bruce protocol. Most of the sample showed obesity and a high visceral fat area. The visceral fat area and the basal metabolic rate explained 30% of the variation of oxygen uptake, regardless of age, time, nature or hormone therapy. The values of the latter variables were reduced in the presence of high central adiposity (-6.16 ml/kg/min) and the basal metabolic rate of less than 1238 kcal/day (-0.18 ml/kg/min). The women with oxygen uptake above 30.94 ml/kg/min showed lower values of total and central adiposity when compared with other groups. With an increase of aerobic fitness, there was a growing tendency of the average values of the soft lean mass index, with differences between the groups low-high and moderate-high. These results suggest worsening of the cardiorespiratory condition with an increase of central adiposity and a decrease of the BMR, regardless of age and menopause characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Sciences, Exercise and Health, Research Center for Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sports and Distance Education Center, University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Betânia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care Master's Program and Physical Education and Sports, University of Montes Claros and Integrated Colleges Pythagoras, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Integrated College of North Mine, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivianne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Integrated College of North Mine and Sports and Distance Education Center, University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Sciences, Exercise and Health, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gabriel
keywords: maximal oxygen uptake; menopause; visceral adiposity