Body composition,work capacity,and work efficiency of active and inactive young men

On 46 healthy young men, of whom 18 took part in strenuous sport at least once a week, height, weight, total body fat (as % of body mass) and lean body mass (LBM) were determined. The subjects performed submaximal exercise on a bicycle ergometer and climbing on an upwardly inclined treadmill at work loads of 60, 110, and 140 watts. Oxygen consumption (), respiratory quotient (RQ), energy expenditure (), and heart rate (f_H) were measured at rest and at each work load, and maximum oxygen intake (max) and physical work capacity (PWC₁₅₀, PWC₁₇₀) were calculated.Anthropometric parameters did not differ significantly between sportsmen and sedentary subjects. max, PWC₁₅₀, and PWC₁₇₀ had higher correlations with LBM than with the other anthropometric parameters. max expressed in terms of LBM (ml/kg LBM/min) was the parameter which showed the clearest distinction between sportsmen and sedentary individuals. The sportsmen had higher max on the treadmill test than on the bicycle ergometer. PWC₁₅₀ and PWC₁₇₀ were higher on the bicycle than on the treadmill and had high correlations with max. Work efficiency was of the same order in both groups and showed negative correlation with the degree of obesity on the bicycle ergometer and positive correlation on the treadmill.