Phase angle associated with different indicators of health-related physical fitness in adults with obesity.

In obese populations, the exacerbated increase in adipose tissue results in a significant reduction of health-related physical fitness and can affect the phase angle (PhA), a promising health indicator of cell health and integrity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of PhA with health-related physical fitness indicators in obese adults. This cross-sectional study had a non-probabilistic sample and was conducted from April to June 2018. The PhA was obtained by a bioelectrical impedance analysis, and the health-related physical fitness indicators evaluated were percentage of body fat (%BF), lower- and upper-body maximal strength, cardiorespiratory fitness (relative V̇O2peak), and flexibility. Pearson and Spearman´s linear correlations, crude and adjusted linear regression analyses were performed. A total of 69 obese adults (60.8% female; BMI = 33.5 ± 2.8 kg/m) with a mean age of 34.6 ± 7.1 years were studied. The PhA means were 5.8 (±0.6º) and had an inverse correlation with %BF (r=-0.74; p<0.001) and positive correlation with V̇O2peak (r=0.50; p<0.001), lower- and upper-body maximal strength (r=0.65; r=0.70; p<0.001, respectively). After adjustment, %BF (β=-0.065, adjusted R=0.53; p<0.001), lower- and upper-body maximal strength (β=0.004; adjusted R=0.46; p<0.001, and β=0.024; adjusted R=0.50; p<0.001, respectively) were predictors of PhA. Our results suggest the favorable role of PhA as a clinically viable tool to screen and identify the physical fitness variables and functional status of obese adults.