Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 79, Issue 3 958-967, Copyright © 1995 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Scaling for the VO2-to-body size relationship among children and adults

D. M. Rogers, B. L. Olson and J. H. Wilmore
University of Texas, Austin 78712, USA.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between oxygen consumption (VO2) and both body surface area (BSA) and body size among 30 prepubertal children, 30 circumpubertal children, and 30 adults to determine which scaling model is most appropriate for making comparisons between these populations. All subjects participated in maximal treadmill testing and submaximal treadmill testing at two absolute work rates. Resting metabolic rate was measured on a subset of 48 subjects. It was determined that the submaximal VO2 (VO2 sm)-to-body size relationship provided the most appropriate model for comparisons. Analyses revealed a stronger linear relationship between VO2 sm and BSA than VO2 sm and body mass. Logarithmic transformation of the data revealed an allometric exponential relationship between VO2 sm and body mass. The exponent relating body mass to VO2 sm at 3 mph (1.34 m/s) was 0.60, whereas the exponent at 5 mph (2.24 m/s) was 0.75. VO2 values at 5 mph were significantly less variable (P < or = 0.05) than those at 3 mph. Therefore the exponent of body mass to the 0.75 power was considered a more appropriate basis for analysis. It was determined that, overall, a scaling factor of BSA or body mass to the 0.75 power both provide a more appropriate method of comparison than a simple ratio standard of body weight.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Peyrot, D. Thivel, L. Isacco, J.-B. Morin, P. Duche, and A. Belli Do mechanical gait parameters explain the higher metabolic cost of walking in obese adolescents? J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2009; 106(6): 1763 - 1770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S Glazier Effects of metabolic level on the body size scaling of metabolic rate in birds and mammals Proc R Soc B, June 22, 2008; 275(1641): 1405 - 1410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Weaver Jr., T. R. Kimball, T. Knilans, W. Mays, S. K. Knecht, Y. M. Gerdes, S. Witt, B. J. Glascock, J. Kartal, P. Khoury, et al. Decreased Maximal Aerobic Capacity in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., March 1, 2008; 19(3): 624 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Tolfrey, A. Barker, J. M. Thom, C. I. Morse, M. V. Narici, and A. M. Batterham Scaling of maximal oxygen uptake by lower leg muscle volume in boys and men J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2006; 100(6): 1851 - 1856. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Zakeri, M. R. Puyau, A. L. Adolph, F. A. Vohra, and N. F. Butte Normalization of Energy Expenditure Data for Differences in Body Mass or Composition in Children and Adolescents J. Nutr., May 1, 2006; 136(5): 1371 - 1376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Luke, R. A Durazo-Arvizu, C. N Rotimi, H. Iams, D. A Schoeller, A. A Adeyemo, T. E Forrester, R. Wilks, and R. S Cooper Activity energy expenditure and adiposity among black adults in Nigeria and the United States Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2002; 75(6): 1045 - 1050. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T Reybrouck, B Eyskens, L Mertens, J Defoor, W Daenen, and M Gewillig Cardiorespiratory exercise function after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries Eur. Heart J., June 2, 2001; 22(12): 1052 - 1059. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. C. Eisenmann, J. M. Pivarnik, and R. M. Malina Scaling peak {V}O2 to body mass in young male and female distance runners J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2001; 90(6): 2172 - 2180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Batterham, P. M. Vanderburgh, M. T. Mahar, and A. S. Jackson Modeling the influence of body size on VO2 peak: effects of model choice and body composition J Appl Physiol, October 1, 1999; 87(4): 1317 - 1325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. P. Heil Scaling of submaximal oxygen uptake with body mass and combined mass during uphill treadmill bicycling J Appl Physiol, October 1, 1998; 85(4): 1376 - 1383. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Rosen, J. D. Sorkin, A. P. Goldberg, J. M. Hagberg, and L. I. Katzel Predictors of age-associated decline in maximal aerobic capacity: a comparison of four statistical models J Appl Physiol, June 1, 1998; 84(6): 2163 - 2170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. G. Eston, A. V. Rowlands, and D. K. Ingledew Validity of heart rate, pedometry, and accelerometry for predicting the energy cost of children's activities J Appl Physiol, January 1, 1998; 84(1): 362 - 371. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Batterham and K. P. George Allometric modeling does not determine a dimensionless power function ratio for maximal muscular function J Appl Physiol, December 1, 1997; 83(6): 2158 - 2166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Batterham, K. Tolfrey, and K. P. George Nevill's explanation of Kleiber's 0.75 mass exponent: an artifact of collinearity problems in least squares models? J Appl Physiol, February 1, 1997; 82(2): 693 - 697. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]