Pulmonary Function and Physical Conditioning

Abstract

Forced vital capacity and various pulmonary function measurements were made on 12 lean and eight obese young men (aged 18 to 20 years) before and after nine weeks of physical conditioning. Differences in pulmonary function between the groups were minimal. Conditioning significantly (0.05 level) increased maximal treadmill work capacity, maximal oxygen intake, and maximal exercise ventilation, but was without effect on most measures of pulmonary function. Obese subjects had significantly higher (0.05 level) exercise ventilation rates during the maximal test than lean subjects; the increase with conditioning was comparable in the two groups. Increased work capacity after conditioning was responsible for the greater ventilation measured during maximal exercise. No measurable impairment in pulmonary function at rest or exercise was observed in the moderately obese young men.