MAXIMAL AEROBIC POWER IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS OF BEIJING, CHINA

The maximal aerobic power of 463 Chinese children and adolescents, 10- 19 years, is described. The absolute values of maximal oxygen intake ( VO(2)max) in boys and girls were 1.75-3.26 and 1.44-2.10 L/min, respec tively. Relative values of VO(2)max per unit stature (VO(2)max/stature ) were 12.35-19.42 ml/cm.min for boys and 10.18-13.42 ml/cm.min for gi rls, values per unit weight (VO(2)max/weight) were 48.60-56.59 ml/kg.m in for boys and 39.34-45.56 ml/kg.min for girls, and values per estima ted unit lean body mass (VO(2)max/lean-body-mass) were 58.98-65.28 ml/ kg.min for boys and 54.90-59.04 ml/kg.min for girls. Maximal values of oxygen pulse (VO(2)max/HRmax) were 8.58-16.67 ml/beat for boys and 6. 88-10.35 ml/beat for girls. In early adolescence, VO(2)max, VO(2)max/s tature, and VO(2)max/HRmax increased with chronological age, but the i ncrement was less in girls. In contrast, VO(2)max/weight and VO(2)max/ LBM did not increase with age in boys and girls. All indicators of VO( 2)max were lager in boys than in girls. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.