Quick/Cheap Office Fitness Testing --> RE: Fit vs Fat --> RE: Doctor, Heal Thyself an adversial opinion

[Guest guest]

Good point, Jean.

But part of my point was that harping on fat people to lose weight may not

be necessary -- unless they are out of shape.

Based on the graphs, we should be harping on out of shape people to get in

shape - regardless of fat/thin.

One could make the argument that fatness is a marker for non-fitness, but I

haven't seen any data (haven't looked) about how well that correlates.

Does it correlate any better that with lean patients?

If I have 100 fat patients and 100 lean patients -- will the fat patients be

more fit?

I don't know -- probably -- but then again, I thought all fat patients, no

matter how fit, were worse off than thin patients who weren't fit a few

years ago.

What is probably needed is the simple fitness screen such as...Harvard step

test or one of the below.

Title: Validity of Selected Lab and Field Tests of Physical Working

Capacity.

Authors: Burke, Edmund J.

Descriptors: Exercise (Physiology); Males; Measurement; Measurement

Instruments; Physical Fitness; Test Validity; Tests

Abstract: The validity of selected lab and field tests of physical

working capacity was investigated. Forty-four male college students were

administered a series of lab and field tests of physical working capacity.

Lab tests include...

test of maximum oxygen uptake

PWC 170 test

Harvard Step Test

Progressive Pulse Ratio Test

Margaria Test of Anaerobic Power

Harvard Fitness Test

Oxygen Debt following the Harvard Fitness Test.

Field tests were...

10-yard dash

50-yard dash

Sum 50's test

300-yard

600-yard

1-mile run

12-minute run.

Variables were intercorrelated using the Pearson product moment correlation

method.

Highly significant correlation was found between the maximum oxygen uptake

expressed in m1/kg/min and the 12-minute run, 600-yard run, 1-mile run,

Balke Test, and All-Out Treadmill Run.

Moderate correlation was found between maximum oxygen uptake and the Harvard

Fitness Test, the 300-yard run, the Astrand-Rhyming Test, Harvard Step Test,

PWC 170, and the Progressive Pulse Test. Using

Multiple Stepwise Regression, the following multiple correlation

coefficients were found: from submaximal tests, .78; from maximal tests,

..91; from field tests, .91; from other lab tests, .86; from all tests, .92.

Within the limitations of the study, it was concluded that

(a) maximal tests of greater than 1 minute in duration may be valid measures

of aerobic capacity, and

( maximal tests are better predictors of aerobic capacity than are

submaximal tests. (Author/HMD)

Locke, MD

Fit vs Fat --> RE: Doctor, Heal Thyself an

adversial opinion

Of course, there has been some discussion that it's not just being fat that

is the issue -- although fatness can be a marker for non-fitness.

But it's probalby more important to get our patients fit -- regardless of

them losing weight.

The ideal is fit and not fat.

But being fat and fit possibly doesn't carry much more mortality than fit

and normal weight.

And possibly is better to be fit/fat than unfit/lean.

http://www.consumer

<http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/2632>

freedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/2632

http://student.

<http://student.biology.arizona.edu/honors2006/group13/Fit%20vs%20Fat.ht

m> biology.arizona.edu/honors2006/group13/Fit%20vs%20Fat.htm

Just a thought to throw in the mix...we may be arguing over a vital signs

marker (fatness) that is less important than the patient's fitness level.

I'm sure there is more to the story that others can offer, but fatness isn't

the only marker to consider.

And possibly, if a patient is fit/fat, they may be better off than their

normal weight out of shape doctor.

:-)

Locke, MD