Association between obesity and various parameters of physical fitness in Korean students

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the types of obesity classified according to the body mass index (BMI) and/or waist circumference (WC) and the various parameters of physical fitness in Korean college students. BMI, WC, and fitness assessments were performed on 726 male college student volunteers who visited a public health center in Seoul, Korea. Classification based on BMI and/or WC was established according to the data in the WHO's Asia-Pacific standard report, and the subjects were divided into the following 4 groups: (1) obese as determined by BMI, but not WC (BMI Obesity Group, BOG); (2) obese as determined by WC, but not BMI (WC Obesity Group, WOG); (3) obese as determined by both BMI and WC (BWOG); and (4) non-obese normal group (NG). Fitness assessment parameters such as cardiorespiratory endurance, cardiovascular function, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, power, agility, and balance were evaluated through the following measurements: time required to run 1.5 km, physical efficiency index (PEI), vital capacity (ℓ), push-ups (reps/2 min), sit-ups (reps/2 min), back strength (kg), grip strength (kg), sit and reach distance (cm), vertical jumps (cm), whole body reaction time (ms), side steps (reps/30 s), and maximum time of standing on 1 foot with closed eyes (s). The odds ratios (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of the BOG and WOG for the 1.5-km run were 0.367 (0.192–0.701) and 0.168 (0.037–0.773), respectively; of the BWOG and WOG for vital capacity were 5.900 (1.298–26.827) and 5.364 (1.166–24.670), respectively; of the BOG for push-ups was 0.517 (0.279–0.959); of the WOG for back strength was 0.206 (0.045–0.945); of the BWOG and BOG for grip strength were 5.973 (1.314–27.157) and 2.036 (1.089–3.807), respectively; and of the BOG for the whole body reaction time was 0.405 (0.212–0.774), as compared to the NG. We conclude that all 3 types of obesity (classified into the BWOG, BOG, and WOG) result in reduced cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance, but increased muscular strength and vital capacity.