The Relationship of Physical Activity and Fitness between Ages

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the nature and magnitude of the relationship between self-reported physical activity and fitness and the extent to which the association varies with religion. A total of 112 subjects focused on the student population of Birmingham University undergone fitness testing by bicycle ergometer, body composition and self-reported health questionnaire. The research was conducted in cross-sectional design. Age (3%), vigorous exercise (15%), and % body fat (42%) predicted VO 2max corrected for weight. When the sample was split into young and old participants, time spent in vigorous exercise and a measure of body composition predicted aerobic fitness in both cohorts, accounting for 50% of the variation in VO 2max in the younger cohort but only 37% in the older cohort. With VO 2max uncorrected for body weight, the strongest predictor was estimated total energy expenditure in physical activity, accounting for 38% of the variance in both cases. The VO 2max declined with age by 0.31 ml · kg -1 · min -1 per year. Percentage body fat and BMI increased with age, by 0.48% per year and 0.16 kg · m -2 per year, respectively. Moderate exercise increased with age as vigorous exercise decreased, yielding no net change in the total time spent exercising. Again, for weight corrected VO 2max it was vigorous exercise and % body fat that predicted. This study is important in helping individuals create a new lifestyle of health as well as a guide to all of the importance of physical activity that is able to prolong the life of the individual.