The Role of Body Fat Percentage and VO2MAX in Predicting Arterial Stiffness in Female College Students

Within the college population, high blood pressure (BP), as well as obesity and sedentary lifestyles, are seen. Bodyfat influences these outcomes. Much of the literature ignores the possible effects that fitness may have on these outcomes, specifically in females. Purpose: The intent of this study was to determine if VOMAX can predict arterial stiffness after adjusting for body fat% in college females. Methods: Healthy young females were recruited from Grand Canyon University. Subjects came to the lab for a single visit for the following assessments: height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, aortic BP, augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index adjusted at a heart rate of 75 (Aix@75), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and a VO2MAX. Hierarchical regression was used with body fat% entered into the first block and VO2MAX entered into the second block. Results: 92 female college students completed the study. The mean BMI was 25.4 +/-5.1 kg/m2, and the mean age was 20.5 +/- 2.2 years. Body fat% and VO2MAX did not statistically predict brachial systolic BP (P=0.137) or cfPWV (P=0.439). Body fat % significantly predicted brachial diastolic BP (R2=0.047, P=0.040), and VO2MAX significantly explains 4.4% more of the variance (P=0.043). Body fat % significantly predicted central systolic BP (R2=0.126, P=2MAX did not significantly add to the model (P=0.320). For central diastolic BP, body fat % was not an independent predictor (P=0.075); however, VO2MAX was found to be an independent predictor (R2=0.100, P=0.015). Body fat % was not an independent predictor (P=0.075) of AP; however, VO2MAX was found to be an independent predictor of AP (R2=0.113, P=0.008). Body fat % significantly predicted Aix@75 (R2=0.067, P=0.014), and VO2MAX was an independent predictor (R2=0.193, P=Conclusion: After adjusting for body fat%, VO2MAX significantly predicted measures of arterial stiffness in college aged females. Additionally, VO2MAX seemed to be a better predictor of arterial stiffness than body fat%. It is ...