Does intensity of physical activity moderate interrelationships among fitness, physical activity and health?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether perceived intensity of training moderates the physical   activity-health, physical activity-fitness, and fitness-health relationships. The participants (N=237) from  eight different companies were assessed for participation in physical activity, cardiovascular fitness and  health. Fasting blood samples, resting heart rate and blood pressure, as well as body composition  measurements were taken. The YMCA three-stage cycle ergometer test was conducted and the ACSM  (2010) metabolic and multi-stage equations were utilised to calculate functional capacity in METs.  Physical activity was measured with two questionnaires (Sharkey index and Baecke questionnaire), that allows for comparison of relative intensity of training with absolute physical activity scores. ANCOVA and Stepwise Multiple Regression analyses were used to assess the relationships of perceived intensity of  training and functional capacity with various measures of health. Perceived intensity of training had  marginally moderating effects on physical activity-health (F=1.135; Eta2=1.7% versus F=0.228; Eta2=0.4%) and the physical activity-fitness (F=8.5; Eta2=8.5% versus F=2.35; Eta2=2.5%) relationships. Cardiovascular fitness (MET) contributed 9.5% (p=0.002) to the variance of a composite health score in comparison to the nonsignificant (p=0.470), 1.2% contribution of intensity of training.

Key words: Perceived intensity of training; Cardiovascular fitness;  Coronary risk; Metabolic syndrome; Health.