Graded Association between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Skin folds Thickness in Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Body fatness and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are both related to health, and their interrelation to each other has been documented but with little information on Nigeria population. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and skin folds, and ifthis relation is linear or curvilinear. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of secondary school students in Sagamu local government area of Ogun state, Nigeria during 2006 school year was carried out. Representative samples of 1638 apparently healthy students were selected from II schools with age ranged between 12 and 18 years. Their CRF, triceps and abdominal skin folds were measured. Results: The results showed a significant negative correlation between the variables but not significant for males' tricepsandsum ofskinfolds. There were significant graded relation between cardiorespiratory fitness and skin folds; the relations were curvilinear in the whole population. Coefficients of determination (R2) for cardiorespiratory fitness were 6.02%, 5.33% and 6.2% for triceps, abdominal and sum ofskin folds respectively. Conclusion: It is therefore, imperative to encourage participation in physical activities to improve fitness and thereby reduces the measure of adiposity. Key word: Cardiorespiratory fitness, skin folds, body fatness, adolescents