Treadmill economy in girls and women matched for height and weight

Departments of 1 Kinesiology and 2 Osteopathic Surgical Specialties, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 We investigated differences in walking (80 m/min) and running (147 m/min) economy [submaximal oxygen consumption ( O 2 submax )] between adolescent girls ( n = 13; age = 13.3 ± 0.9 yr) and young women ( n = 23; age = 21.0 ± 1.5 yr). Subjects were matched for height (158.7 ± 2.9 cm) and weight (52.1 ± 3.0 kg). Anthropometric measures (height, weight, breadths, skinfolds) and preexercise oxygen consumption were obtained on all subjects before submaximal and maximal treadmill exercise. Anthropometric measures were similar between groups, as was maximal oxygen consumption (girls, 47.7 ± 5.2; women, 47.5 ± 5.7 ml · kg 1 · min 1 ). O 2 submax was significantly greater ( P