title: The relation between physical activity, fitness, and fatness in adolescents: A mediation analysis.
abstract: To investigate the total, direct and mediated (by fatness) association of physical activity (PA) with fitness.
  
  
  
  Body fat percentage (%Fat), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max ) and PA were measured directly in 18-year-olds (n=202) and their association analyzed with a linear regression-based mediation analysis after controlling for sex.
  
  
  
  The total association between PA and VO2max was significant (c=0.66, P<0.001) and was significantly mediated by %Fat (ab=0.25, 95% CI: 0.04-0.49). The direct association was also significant (ć=0.41, P<0.001).
  
  
  
  Physical activity is associated with VO2max in 18-year-old adolescents but a little over a third of that association is mediated by %Fat. Regardless of fatness, PA is important for fitness in this age group. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:584-586, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 840, Laugarvatn, Iceland.
authors.forename: Sigurbjörn Árni
authors.initials: SÁ
authors.lastname: Arngrímsson
authors.affiliation: Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 840, Laugarvatn, Iceland.
authors.forename: Anna SigríĐur
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ólafsdóttir
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness