Objective:

To Correlate VO2max, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds and BMI in university students of Villavicencio, Colombia.

Materials and methods:

Prospective, observational cross-sectional study, with a descriptive and relational scope. A non-probabilistic or stratified sample of 390 students (186 men, 204 women) with average age 21.34 D.E. 4.49 years, enrolled in four universities, was evaluated. The VO2max was calculated from the Queens College Step Test and its results were evaluated with the ACSM tables, the percentage of body fat by skinfold thickness measurement followed the procedures standardized by ISAK. The normality of the distribution (KS) was evaluated with the SPSS program and mean, standard deviation, and correlation were calculated. The participants signed an informed consent following Resolution 8430 of 1994.

Results:

Weak negative correlations were found between VO2max and the sum of triceps and subscapular folds (r = -0.198 **, P = 0.000), body fat percentage (r = -0.216 **, P = 0.000). The correlation between VO2max and BMI was not significant (P > 0.05) for all the population evaluated. In men, there were significant negative correlations between VO2max and sum of triceps and subscapular folds (r = -0.264 **, p = 0.000), triceps and middle leg (r = -0.294, p = 0.000), percentage of fat (r = -0.286, p = 0.000). In women, no significant correlations were found (p >0.05) between VO2max and body composition.

Conclusions:

Weak negative correlations were found between VO2max, sum of skinfolds and percentage of body fat only in men. No relationship was found between VO2max and BMI.

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