Predicting maximum oxygen uptake in adolescents

A. C. Hergenroeder and R. B. Schoene
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.

The purpose of this study was to develop regression equations to predict oxygen uptake (VO2) in adolescents. Thirty-nine subjects had maximum oxygen uptake measured on a cycle ergometer. Anthropometric measurements included triceps, subscapular, and thigh skin folds. The subjects ran 12-minute and 2.4-km runs on separate days. Using a multiple-stepwise forward regression analysis, equations were developed to predict oxygen uptake as VO2 and VO2/kg, accounting for 81% and 64% of the variance, respectively. A validation procedure was done 5 months later when all runs and measurements were repeated, and predicted and measured oxygen uptake were compared. The equation for predicting VO2 accounted for 88% of the variance, with the SE of the estimate equal to 0.07 L/min. The equation for predicting VO2/kg accounted for 58% of the variance, with the SE of the estimate equal to 27 mL of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. The VO2 can be accurately predicted using indirect means in adolescents, while VO2/kg cannot.