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Aerobic fitness in young Norwegian men: a comparison between 1980 and 2002
Author(s) -
Dyrstad S. M.,
Aandstad A.,
Hallén J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00432.x
Subject(s) - vo2 max , norwegian , population , aerobic exercise , medicine , demography , physical therapy , zoology , biology , blood pressure , heart rate , linguistics , philosophy , environmental health , sociology
The purpose of this study was to compare the maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max ) in 18–19‐year‐old Norwegian men from 1980 to 1985 and 2002. In addition, we investigated the relationship between VO 2max and education and smoking habits in the sample from 2002. From 1980 to 1985, VO 2max was predicted using the Åstrand–Rhyming bicycle test for 183 610 eighteen‐year‐old Norwegian men (91% of the male Norwegian population in this age group). In 2002, the same test was performed on a representative sample of the same age population ( N =1028). VO 2max (mL × kg −1 × min −1 ), decreased by 8%, body weight increased by 7% and body mass index (BMI) increased by 6% over the approximately 20‐year period ( P <0.01). Results from the 2002 sample revealed that smokers had a lower VO 2max than non‐smokers and vocational students had a lower VO 2max than academic students ( P <0.05). The average reduction in VO 2max was because of an increased number of men with low or very low VO 2max , and a reduced number of men with high VO 2max values. This is of particular concern since the prevalence of lifestyle‐related diseases is higher in groups with low VO 2max .