ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES AND RESTING CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS AS CORRELATES OF PHYSICAL FITNESS INDEX AMONG OVERWEIGHT UNDERGRADUATES OF A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

¹Abodike, GM, ¹Ezeukwu, AO, ¹Ugwueye, FC, ¹Uduonu, EM, ² Obiechina, MC, ² Chinonye, PC, ² Okpala SI

¹ Department of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus

² Department of Physiology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus

ekezie.uduonu@unn.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

Body anthropometry, resting cardiovascular parameters and physical fitness index are all inter-related to health, and their interrelationship has been documented but with little information among overweight individual especially undergraduates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationship among anthropometric indices, resting cardiovascular parameters and physical fitness index among undergraduates of university of Nigeria Enugu campus. The research involved a study of overweight students of University of Nigeria. Their body Anthropometry viz: weight, height, body mass index, fat mass, fat mass index, lean body mass, fat free mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio and conicty index were measured. Their cardiovascular parameter viz: heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure and rate pressure product were also determined. Their physical fitness index was also determined using Harvard step test. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation between weight, percentage body fat, fat mass, fat mass index, hip circumference, heart rate and rate pressure product and physical fitness index, it also showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between height, lean body mass, fat free mass index, waist hip ratio, and fat free mass index and physical fitness index. The result also showed non significant (p> 0.05) correlation between body mass index, waist circumference, conicity index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure and physical fitness index. The result of stepwise multiple regression showed that sex and rate pressure product (heart rate x systolic blood pressure)were significant predictor of physical fitness index. Sex had a coefficient of determinant (R²) = 0.364 and when rate pressure product was added to the model, it increased to 0.414. It is concluded that, sex and rate pressure product are the two main factors determining physical fitness index.

Key words: Anthropometric Indices, Overweight, Cardiovascular Parameters, Physical Fitness