Association of Physical Activity and Total Cholesterol with VO2Max in Middle-Aged Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.62255/mjhp.v4iSuppl%201.325Abstract
Background: Declining cardiorespiratory fitness in women over 45 is linked to aging, hormonal changes, low physical activity, and elevated cholesterol, which collectively impair oxygen consumption (VO?Max). Physical activity may enhance cardiorespiratory efficiency, while high cholesterol can compromise oxygen distribution through vascular dysfunction.
Objective: To examine the relationship between physical activity and total cholesterol levels, both partially and simultaneously, with VO?Max in women aged over 45 years in Malang City.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study following STROBE guidelines recruited 20 women aged over 45 via purposive sampling. Physical activity was measured using the IPAQ, total cholesterol via a digital capillary analyser, and VO?Max via the 6-Minute Walk Test. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test, linearity tests, Pearson correlation, and multiple correlation.
Results: Physical activity was strongly and positively correlated with VO?Max (r = 0.785; p < 0.001). Total cholesterol was weakly and negatively correlated with VO?Max (r = ?0.287; p = 0.220), a non-significant association. Simultaneously, physical activity and total cholesterol showed a strong relationship with VO?Max (R = 0.790; R² = 0.624; p < 0.001), with physical activity contributing the dominant unique variance (54.2%) compared with total cholesterol (0.8%).
Conclusion: Physical activity is the primary determinant of VO?Max in women over 45, while total cholesterol shows a weak, non-significant negative association. Together, both variables explain 62.4% of VO?Max variance. Interventions should prioritise structured physical activity programmes integrated with lipid management.
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