Physical fitness in Sri Lankan students

Abstract

Meaximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was determined in agroup of sendentary medical students of both genders and ina group of University students and school children engaged in regular sports practices. The subjects were selected on a voluntary basis. The steady state heart rate during submaximal exercise on a bicycle ergometer was used to predict the VO2 max from the Astrand nomogram. The fitness index calculated aas VO2 max in ml/kg body weight was to determine the fitness level adjusted for age from the Astrand table. The male sendentory and sports groups had fitness indices which corresponded to 'poor' and 'average' fitness levels, respectively. The female sedentary and sports groups had fitness indices which were not significantly different from those of the corresponding male groups and which corresponded to 'average' and 'good' fitness levels, respectively. Weight-lifters had a fitness level similar to that of the male sendentary group.\