FITNESS IN A UK SCREENING SAMPLE - A COMPARISON WITH THE CANADIAN POPULATION

Fitness measurements were compared from approximately 12,000 men and 5 ,000 women attending the BUPA Health Screening Centre, London, with pu blished Canadian levels. The mean (+/- SD) predicted VO2-max values in the BUPA group were 35.1 (+/- 9.2) and 30.0 (+/- 8.4)ml/kg/min for me n and women aged 15-64 years, respectively. These compare with means o f 44.1 and 34.3 in men and women of the same age in Canada. A comparis on of flexibility measurements showed that in all age groups the BUPA subjects were less flexible than their Canadian counterparts, on avera ge 28.7% and 25.1% lower for men and women, respectively. Comparison o f grip strength showed BUPA values to be on average 8.1% lower in men and 9.5% lower in women than the Canadian levels. Analysis of variance showed that the fitness measurements reflect the recorded physical ac tivity in the BUPA sample, and in particular the predicted VO2-max and flexibility exhibit linear relationships with age and exercise levels .