The Relationship Between Body Composition and Lung Function, and the Effect of Physical Fitness

Abstract

Body composition is a potential modifiable risk factor for decreased lung function. It is therefore useful to understand this association. A single study examined this relationship while considering physical fitness/activity as possible confounders, but the results were not widely generalizable. Cycles 1 and 2 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey were used to address the following objectives: 1. Examining the association between anthropometric measures and lung function in Canadians over age 40. 2. Determining if that association is influenced by physical fitness/activity. Anthropometric measures were stronger predictors of FVC than FEV1. Physical fitness and physical activity were confounders of the relationship of interest. The results of the current study add support to the literature stating that BMI is not the best anthropometric predictor of lung function, as well as indicate that physical fitness and activity should be taken into consideration as potential confounders of the relationship of interest.