Relationship between Body Composition and Respiratory Function in Young Obese Adults

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to compare the respiratory function of non-obese and obese young healthy subjects, and to clarify the relationship between the respiratory function and the body composition (e.g. the amount of skeletal muscle in the limbs). [Participants and Methods] The subjects were defined as non-obese if their Body Mass Index (BMI) was less than or equal to 24 and their waist was less than 84 cm, and as obese if their BMI was greater than or equal to 25 and their waist was greater than or equal to 85 cm. [Results] The obese group had significantly higher %VC and %FEV1.0 than the non-obese group. In the non-obese group, there was a negative correlation between %PImax and BMI. In the obese group, there was a significant positive correlation between %ERV and right upper extremity muscle mass and BMI. [Conclusion] The results suggest that obesity may reduce respiratory function in young people.