• Jae-Woo Kim, Dong-Il Seo, B Swearingin, and Wi-Young So.
• Department of Physical Education, Korea Military Academy, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Obes Res Clin Pract. 2013 Jan 1;7(1):e67-e74.

AbstractThe 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.© 2013 Asian Oceanian Association for the Study of Obesity . All rights reserved.

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