title: The association of cardiorespiratory fitness to health independent of adiposity depends upon its expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The strong relation between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and adiposity renders their independent associations to metabolic risk factors difficult to ascertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the associations of CRF and CRF relative to fat-free mass (CRFFFM) to total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, glucose, insulin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and distinguish these relations from the association to adiposity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometrics, body fat percentage (%Fat) and fat-free mass (from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) were measured in 127 (66 females) 17 and 23 year-olds. CRF from a maximal workload on a graded bicycle test and fasting blood samples were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRF was significantly related to total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and HOMA (r = -0.24 to -0.49, p < 0.03), as were all adiposity measures (r = 0.21-0.53, p < 0.05). Correcting CRF for %Fat rendered the relation to metabolic risk factors non-significant (p = 0.09-0.21); however, CRFFFM was significantly related to the metabolic risk factors (r = -0.25 to -0.32, p < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRFFFM, where adiposity has been removed, is associated with metabolic risk factors, whereas CRF, which is related to adiposity, is not after adjustment for fatness. Previously, independent effects of CRF on health may have been underestimated by using an expression of CRF strongly related to the adiposity measures.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland , Laugarvatn , Iceland and.
authors.forename: Elvar Smári
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Sævarsson
authors.affiliation: a Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland , Laugarvatn , Iceland and.
authors.forename: Kristján Thór
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Magnússon
authors.affiliation: b Research Centre of Movement Science, University of Iceland , Reykjavík , Iceland.
authors.forename: Thórarinn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sveinsson
authors.affiliation: a Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland , Laugarvatn , Iceland and.
authors.forename: Erlingur
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jóhannsson
authors.affiliation: a Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland , Laugarvatn , Iceland and.
authors.forename: Sigurbjörn Árni
authors.initials: SÁ
authors.lastname: Arngrímsson
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Adolescents; HOMA; body composition; metabolic health; young adults