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Gender differences and determinants of aerobic fitness in children aged 8–11 years

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An Erratum to this article was published on 10 February 2007

Abstract

Previous studies of gender differences in maximum oxygen uptake have come to different conclusions. Limited data exists where the determinants of maximum oxygen uptake have been evaluated in a comprehensive manner. Thus, we examined 248 children (140 boys and 108 girls), aged 7.9–11.1 years. Body composition was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, measured variables were total body fat (TBF) and lean body mass (LBM). Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured by indirect calorimetry during a maximal cycle exercise test. Daily physical activity was assessed by accelerometers and duration of vigorous activity per day (VPA) was calculated. Left ventricular inner diastolic diameter (LVDD) was measured by echocardiography. Lung function was evaluated with spirometric testing and whole body plethysmography. Boys had between 8 and 18% higher values than girls for VO2peak, dependent upon whether VO2peak was expressed in absolute values or scaled to body mass, LBM or if allometric scaling was used. In multiple regression analysis absolute values of aerobic fitness were independently related to LBM, maximal heart rate (Max HR), gender, LVDD, and VPA. Furthermore, when VO2peak was scaled to body mass it was independently related to ln TBF, Max HR, gender, VPA, and LVDD. Lung function had no relation to VO2peak. Our study concludes that body composition is the main predictor for VO2peak, in children aged 8–11 years, whereas VPA or LVDD has only a modest impact. Existing gender differences in VO2peak cannot be explained only by differences in body composition, physical activity, or heart size.

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Acknowledgment

Financial support for this study was received from the Swedish Research Council K2004-73X-14080-04A, Centre for Athletic Research 121/04, the Malmö and Lund hospital foundations and the Region Skåne Foundations. The authors also acknowledge Pär Gärdsell MD, PhD, one of those who started the research project, now working as health promoter within the extended health project—Bunkeflomodellen (http://www.Bunkeflomodellen.com) and Rosie Wiberg, Berit Ohlson, Ewa Ericson, Ingrid Andersson, and Anita Eriksson for performing excellent measurements.

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Correspondence to Magnus Dencker.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0406-y

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Dencker, M., Thorsson, O., Karlsson, M.K. et al. Gender differences and determinants of aerobic fitness in children aged 8–11 years. Eur J Appl Physiol 99, 19–26 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0310-x

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