PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine aerobic performance in men with an increased body mass due to (a) high body fat (>21.5%) but with a average (59.0–64.3 kg) lean body mass (HBF group) and (b) high lean body mass (>66.3 kg), but with average body fat (14.0–18.5%) (HLBM group).MethodsThe men in the HBF and HLBM had similar absolute body mass and body mass index (BMI). The aerobic performance was also determined in control group. Methods: Study participants comprised 39 men aged 21.3±1.9 years who did not participate in competitive sports but were recreationally physically active. Participants were divided into three groups. Each group comprised 13 persons. The study involved anthropometric measurements, assessing aerobic performance (VO2max) using an incremental test on a mechanical treadmill. VO2max was expressed in absolute values, relative to body mass (VO2max⋅BM−1), relative to lean body mass (VO2max⋅LBM−1), and relative to BM raised by the exponents of 0.75 and 0.67. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.ResultsNo statistically significant differences in relative values of VO2max were found between the HBF and HLBM groups, in VO2max⋅BM−1 (50.24±4.56 vs. 53.11±5.45 mL⋅kg−1), VO2max⋅LBM−1 (65.33±5.63 vs. 63.86±7.13 mL⋅kgLBM−1), and VO2max⋅BM−0.75 (150.29±13.5 vs. 160.39±16.15 mL⋅kg−0.75). Values of VO2max⋅BM−1 were significantly lower in the HBF and HLBM groups than in the control group (58.23±5.84 mL⋅kg−1).ConclusionHigh body mass, regardless of the cause decreases VO2max⋅BM−1.

The aim of our study was to compare the indicators of starting speed, anaerobic endurance and power in women as well as men, and to investigate whether the values of these indicators differ in women during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The studied group included 16 men and 16 women. The subjects performed the 20-second maximal cycling sprint test. The men performed the test twice at 14-day intervals. The women undertook the test 4 times: twice during the middle of follicular phase and twice in the middle of luteal phase in separate menstrual cycles. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle do not influence anaerobic performance, starting speed or anaerobic endurance in women. Anaerobic performance in men is higher than in women with similar aerobic performance expressed as VO 2 max/LBM (lean body mass). A lower power decrease with time was noted for women than men, with a similar time of maintaining power in both groups. This is evidence of women's better anaerobic endurance compared to men. At the same time, the men had significantly better starting speed rates than women.Keywords: anaerobic power, anaerobic exercise, acid-base homeostasis, gender differences, menstrual cyclePrevious studies have clearly showed significant differences in anaerobic power between men and women, indicating the reason for the differences to be inter-sex differences in muscle histology and enzyme activity associated with anaerobic metabolism (2, 12). However, in previous studies, the impact of women's menstrual cycle on the level of analyzed indicators were not always taken into account, which are essential in the evaluation of anaerobic performance, i.e. peak and mean anaerobic power (8,10,15). Other important indicators of anaerobic performance in sports are the speed of obtaining the maximum power (i.e. the time necessary to obtain maximum power from the start) and anaerobic endurance

Body mass (BM) and composition are considered to be significant determinants of aerobic endurance. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of BM and its composition makeup on endurance performance. Thirty-nine men were divided into 3 groups of significantly different BM and mass composition: a control group, a group with high body fat (HBF), and a group with high lean body mass (HLBM). Participants in the HBF and HLBM groups had similar BM, which was significantly greater than observed in the control group. All participants performed an incremental treadmill test to volitional failure. Endurance performance was assessed on the basis of respiratory compensation point (RCP). The HBF and HLBM groups exceeded RCP at a much lower work intensity, expressed as %HRmax and %VO2max, compared with the control group. When considered relative to BM and lean body mass, oxygen consumption values at RCP were significantly less in the HBF and HLBM groups compared with the control group. Increased BM, regardless of its composition, substantially reduced aerobic endurance performance. Therefore, athletes and coaches should pay attention to not only the percentage of body fat but also to the amount of lean body mass because any gain may adversely affect aerobic endurance performance.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether metabolic cost is similar in overweight and normoweight children when workload during exercise on a cycle-ergometer is adjusted relative to an objectively determined second ventilatory threshold (VT2) or the maximal workload (Pmax). The tests were conducted every 2 years: first at the age of 10 years and the third test at around the age of 14 years. The levels of maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2)max), Pmax, and the VT2 were determined by means of graded tests on a cycle ergometer. The main test consisted of two 6-minute exercises of submaximal constant intensity (below and above VT2) performed on a cycle ergometer, with a 4-minute recovery between efforts. The workload during cycling was adjusted individually for each participant and adjusted to the values determined in the graded test: workload at VT2 and Pmax. Physiological response (absolute and relative to free-fat mass oxygen uptake, heart rate, pulmonary ventilation, tidal volume, and breathing frequency) is similar in overweight and normoweight boys when workload on a cycle ergometer is adjusted to VT2. The only significant intergroup difference was seen in relative to body mass oxygen intake.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the respiratory compensation point (RCP) in overweight and normoweight boys and to clarify changes in the RCP over 4 years. This study was conducted with 11 overweight boys and 14 boys with normal weight. The boys performed the graded test every 2 years (three series) beginning at the age of 9-10 years and finishing at the age of 13-14 years. During the test, the RCP was detected. In every series, the RCP occurred earlier in the overweight boys than in the normoweight boys and at a significantly (P<0·05) lower rate relative to body mass power output (P kg(-1) ). Relative oxygen uptake (VO2  kg(-1) ) at the RCP in all studies was also significantly (P<0·05) lower in the group of overweight boys. The maximum level of analysed indicators (VO2 max; Pmax) differentiated both groups in similar ways as their level noted at RCP. This study showed significant (P<0·05) correlation between the values VO2 max kg(-1) and VO2  kg(-1) at RCP in each series of the test and between Pmax kg(-1) and P kg(-1) at RCP. The respiratory compensation point seems to be a good method for evaluating aerobic performance in children (also overweight). During puberty, a decreasing tendency in aerobic performance was observed in both groups.