Repository logo
 

Directly measured aerobic fitness in male Maasai of Tanzania.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

No Thumbnail Available

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Christensen, Dirk L  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2142-522X
Jørgensen, Sine W 
Koch, Lars S 
Nordsborg, Nikolai B 
Sironga, Joseph 

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The agro-pastoralist Maasai of East Africa are highly physically active, but their aerobic fitness has so far only been estimated using heart rate (HR) response to submaximal exercise and not directly measured. Thus, we aimed to measure aerobic fitness directly using respiratory gas analysis in a group of Maasai, and habitual physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) as explanatory variable. METHODS: In total, 21 (10 rural, 11 semi-urban) of 30 volunteering Tanzanian Maasai men were eligible to participate. Respiratory gas exchange was measured during a graded exercise test until exhaustion on a stationary bicycle to determine aerobic fitness. Maximal effort criteria were at least two of the following (1) leveling off, (2) respiratory exchange ratio (RER) >1.10, and (3) maximum HR within 10 bpm of age-estimated maximum HR. Habitual PAEE was estimated using combined accelerometry and HR monitoring. Anthropometry, biochemistry, blood pressure, resting HR, and dietary intake information were collected for background information. RESULTS: Mean age was 43.2 (range 26-60) years, and hemoglobin was higher in the rural versus semi-urban Maasai (16.9 vs. 15.4 g/dl, p = .02). Mean aerobic fitness (34.4 vs. 33.3 mlO2 /min/kg, p = .79), and mean PAEE (58.5 vs. 52.9 kJ/day/kg, p = .64) were similar in rural and semi-urban Maasai, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic fitness was low to moderate in male rural and semi-urban Maasai. This may be explained by relatively low PAEE in comparison to previous objectively measured activity levels in Maasai, which indicates recent lifestyle changes.

Description

Keywords

Accelerometry, Adult, Energy Metabolism, Exercise, Exercise Test, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Fitness, Tanzania

Journal Title

Am J Hum Biol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1042-0533
1520-6300

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
MRC (MC_UU_00006/4)