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Study: Aerobic fitness, body mass index and health-related risk factors

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Released: 2017-03-28

Physical fitness plays an important role in improving health and well-being. A high level of aerobic fitness, defined as the ability of the lungs, heart and circulatory system to efficiently deliver oxygen to working muscles during physical activity, has been linked to a reduced risk of such conditions as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, and osteoporosis.

By contrast, excess body fat (that is, being overweight or obese) is associated with an increased risk for such conditions. A new study based on the Canadian Health Measures Survey looks at the link between aerobic fitness, being overweight/obese and various health-related risk factors among Canadians aged 20 to 59 years.

Results of the study show that adults aged 20 to 59 with good, very good or excellent aerobic fitness ratings, measured according to the modified Canadian aerobic fitness test, were significantly less likely to have selected health-related risk factors (such as high blood pressure or a large waist circumference) than their less-fit counterparts.

Chart 1  Chart 1: Percentage of Canadians aged 20 to 59 with selected health-related risk factors, by aerobic fitness rating
Percentage of Canadians aged 20 to 59 with selected health-related risk factors, by aerobic fitness rating

Additionally, the study showed that health-related risks associated with being overweight or obese (as determined by body mass index, or BMI) were offset by high levels of aerobic fitness.

For overweight adults with very good or excellent aerobic fitness, an estimated 44% had one or more health-related risk factors, compared with 59% among overweight adults with good aerobic fitness and 76% among overweight adults whose aerobic fitness was fair or needed improvement.

For obese adults with very good or excellent aerobic fitness, 51% had one or more health-related risk factors, compared with 88% among obese adults with good aerobic fitness and 97% among obese adults whose aerobic fitness was fair or needed improvement.


  Note to readers

The study presents data from the combined cycles 1 (2007 to 2009) and 2 (2009 to 2011) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). The CHMS is an on-going survey that collects key information relevant to the health of Canadians by means of direct physical measurements. The measures include blood pressure, height, weight and fitness. In addition, the survey collects blood and urine samples.

The health-related risk factors examined in this study included high blood pressure, a large waist circumference, high triglycerides (a type of fat), low high density lipoprotein levels ("good" cholesterol), and high blood sugar.

Aerobic fitness was determined from a submaximal exercise test called the modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness test (mCAFT). The mCAFT is a moderate intensity exercise test that monitors heart rates while respondents stepped up and down a set of stairs continuously to music during a series of three minute stages. The heart rate at the end of the last completed stage of stepping was used to calculate the respondent's aerobic fitness score. The score is then used to assign, based on the respondent's age and sex, one of the following aerobic fitness ratings: needs improvement, fair, good, very good, and excellent. Due to small sample sizes in this study, the aerobic fitness ratings were regrouped into three categories as follows: needs improvement/fair, good, and very good/excellent.

Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms (kg) by his or her height, squared, in metres (m2). For non-pregnant adults ages 18 and older, BMI was categorized according to cut-points recommended by Health Canada and the World Health Organization as follows:

• normal weight (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2)

• overweight (25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2)

• obese (30.0 kg/m2 and over)

Products

The article "Aerobic fitness, body mass index and health-related risk factors," published in Health at a Glance (Catalogue number82-624-X), is now available.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).

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