Correlation of Body Fat and VO₂max with Markers of Metabolic Health

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Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), an indicator of physical fitness, is paramount to predicting cardiovascular and metabolic health. Of various indicators of CRF, maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) is the best. Percentage of body fat and lipid profile are two important indicators of an individual’s metabolic function. Dyslipidemia and excess body fat are known to increase cardiometabolic risk and decrease aerobic capacity. The interaction of body fat and aerobic fitness, as measured by VO₂max, along with other metabolic parameters, determines long-term health outcomes and identifies modifiable health targets. Methodology: This cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Endocrinology and Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, from February to May, 2025 included 221 apparently healthy adults aged 18-65 years. The participant’s anthropometric data was collected i.e. BMI, body fat percentage, and waist circumference. VO₂max was calculated using the formula based on resting heart rate and age. Metabolic markers were fasting triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). SPSS version 25.0, was used for data analysis. Relationship of variables was tested using Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and one-way ANOVA taking p-value of 0.05 as significant. Results: Participants included 221 adults (49.8% males) with a mean age of 36.8 ± 9.4 years and mean BMI of 28.6 ± 4.9 kg/m². VO₂max showed strong negative correlations with body fat percentage (r = –0.518, p < 0.001), BMI (r = –0.406, p < 0.001), and waist circumference (r = –0.387, p < 0.001). HDL correlated positively with VO₂max (r = +0.285, p = 0.001), while triglycerides were inversely related (r = –0.214, p = 0.003). Regression analysis identified body fat, BMI, and HDL as significant predictors, explaining 47% of VO₂max variability. VO₂max declined significantly across BMI categories (p < 0.001), confirming that excess body mass compromises aerobic fitness. Conclusion: The findings indicate that increased body fat and dyslipidemia are strongly associated with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness. Body fat percentage, BMI, and HDL emerged as key determinants of VO₂max, highlighting the integrated role of adiposity and metabolic status in predicting aerobic performance. These results highlight the importance of weight management and aerobic conditioning in improving metabolic health and reducing cardiovascular risk.

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