Cardiorespiratory fitness of healthy Polish men and women with various somatotypes.

The mesomorphic somatotype was the most common among men, while the endomorphic somatotype predominated among women in the study sample.

• Study included 276 subjects (146 men and 130 women) aged 18-72 years.
• Somatotype was determined using the Heath-Carter modification of Sheldon's typology.
• The three main components assessed were endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy.

Somatotype differentiated BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio, with ectomorphic subjects having the lowest values for these parameters.

• BMI was expressed in kg/m².
• Ectomorphic subjects consistently showed the lowest values across all three anthropometric parameters.
• Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test, and Pearson's correlation.

The highest systolic and diastolic blood pressure measures were found in endomorphic subjects, with the strongest differences observed in women.

• For systolic blood pressure in women: H = 9.3, p = 0.009.
• For diastolic blood pressure in women: H = 9.0, p = 0.011.
• Blood pressure was monitored at rest as part of the Astrand-Ryhming test protocol.

In men, mesomorphs had the highest VO₂max and ectomorphs had the lowest VO₂max.

• Differences in VO₂max expressed in ml/kg/min were statistically significant: H = 7.6, p = 0.022.
• Differences in VO₂max expressed in l/min were statistically significant: H = 10.1, p = 0.006.
• Aerobic capacity was estimated using the Astrand-Ryhming test.
• Heart rate was recorded both at rest and during exercise.

In women, differences in VO₂max between somatotypes were smaller than in men, though still present.

• The study included 130 women aged 18-72 years.
• The magnitude of somatotype-related VO₂max differences was less pronounced in women compared to men.
• VO₂max was assessed using the Astrand-Ryhming test in both sexes.

Negative correlations were observed between VO₂max expressed in ml/kg/min and the endomorphic component, while positive correlations were observed between VO₂max in l/min and mesomorphy.

• Pearson's correlation was used to assess relationships between somatotype components and VO₂max.
• VO₂max was analysed in two units: ml/kg/min (relative) and l/min (absolute).
• The direction of the correlation differed depending on the unit of VO₂max used and the somatotype component examined.