Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Muscular Fitness, and Flexibility Are Associated with Body Fat Distribution and Obesity Risk Using Bioelectrical Impedance in Taiwanese Adults

Hsiu-Hsi Chiang, Po-Fu Lee, Yun-Tsung Chen, Chi-Fang Lin, Shu Xu, Yi-Tien Lin, Yu-Ting Lin, Yan-Jhu Su, Ben-Chang Shia, Wen-Sheng ChangChien and Chien-Chang Ho
Additional contact information
Hsiu-Hsi Chiang: Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan
Po-Fu Lee: Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Ilan University, Yilan County 260, Taiwan
Yun-Tsung Chen: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Chi-Fang Lin: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Shu Xu: Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
Yi-Tien Lin: Superintendent Office, Fu Jen Catholic Hospital, New Taipei City 243, Taiwan
Yu-Ting Lin: Graduate Institute of Sport Coaching Science, Chinese Culture University, Taipei City 111, Taiwan
Yan-Jhu Su: Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
Ben-Chang Shia: Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan
Wen-Sheng ChangChien: Innovation Lab, H2U Corporation, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
Chien-Chang Ho: Department of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-11

Abstract: In terms of public health, obesity and overweight have become major concerns worldwide. Nevertheless, regarding body composition, it is important to have a more precise understanding of the fat-to-muscle ratio. Hence, this study aimed to adopt bioelectrical impedance measurements to test body fat percentage (BF%) and to determine the associations between health-related physical fitness and both body fat (BF) distribution and BF obesity risk in Taiwanese adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from Taiwan’s Scientific Physical Fitness Survey. From the database, responses from 17,970 participants aged 23–64 years were collected in this study. Each participant completed a series of health-related physical fitness measurements, including cardiorespiratory fitness (3 min of a progressive knee-up and step (3MPKS) test), muscular fitness (hand-grip strength), and flexibility (sit-and-reach test). The BF% of each participant was assessed using the bioelectrical impedance analysis method. BF% was negatively associated with low performance on the 3MPKS (β = 11.314, p < 0.0001 for men; β = 12.308, p < 0.0001 for women), hand-grip strength ( β = 2.071, p < 0.0001 for men; β = 0.859, p < 0.0001 for women), and sit-and-reach ( β = 0.337, p = 0.008 for women) tests but was positively associated with sit-and-reach ( β = −0.394, p = 0.004 for men). A risk of BF obesity for low performance of 3MPKS (odds ratio (OR) = 26.554, p < 0.0001 for men; OR = 25.808, p < 0.0001 for women), hand-grip strength (OR = 1.682, p < 0.0001 for men; OR = 1.234, p < 0.0001 for women), and sit-and-reach (OR = 1.142, p = 0.007 for women) tests was observed. These results suggest that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and flexibility are associated with an increased risk of BF obesity.

Keywords: physical fitness; body fat; adiposity; adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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