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THE INFLUENCE OF A STABLE DIET AND REGULAR WORK ON BODY WEIGHT AND CAPACITY FOR EXERCISE IN AFRICAN MINE RECRUITS

Authors :
J. F. Morrison
J. S. Maritz
J. Peter
N. B. Strydom
J. S. Ward
C. H. Wyndham
Source :
Ergonomics. 5:435-444
Publication Year :
1962
Publisher :
Informa UK Limited, 1962.

Abstract

In 20 African mine labourers there was a significant average gain in weight from 122 lb on recruitment to 128 lb after one month, as a, result of a stable diet and regular physical labour. The mean estimated maximum oxygen capacity rose significantly from 2·32 l to 2·79 l after one month, with a further slight rise to 2·83 l after four months. On each of the three occasions that these men were studied maximum oxygen capacity was highly correlated with gross body weight, the correlation coefficients rising from 0·59 to 0·70 after one month and to 0·83 after four months. Some exceptions to the general rule of ‘ the heavier the man the higher his oxygen capacity ’ are discussed. The ratio of oxygen intake to rate of work did not alter significantly, indicating that the subjects did not become more efficient in the unitization of oxygen. Subjects ventilated 30 per cent more air through their lungs in order to take in one litre of oxygen per min for work at 6,000 feat altitude than do men at sea level.

Details

ISSN :
13665847 and 00140139
Volume :
5
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Ergonomics
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........7d4783aa6f44cdd45330d7e8fdb16b1b
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/00140136208930614