The Impact of Smoking, Body Mass Index, and Pulmonary Function on Aerobic Endurance: A Case Study of College Sports Students

Aerobic endurance is crucial for sports students who rely on optimal respiratory health for sustained activity. This study investigates the impact of smoking, Body Mass Index (BMI), and lung function, specifically Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), on aerobic endurance. Conducted with a cross-sectional design, the study involved 35 sports students aged 19.23±0.92 years who met specific inclusion criteria. Data were collected through smoking behavior questionnaires, BMI measurements, spirometry for FVC, and beep tests for endurance. Results showed smoking did not significantly affect FVC (sig 0.460 > α = 0.05) or endurance (sig 0.089 > α = 0.05). BMI had a significant effect on FVC (sig 0.037 < α = 0.05), but not on endurance (sig 0.917 > α = 0.05). FVC itself did not significantly influence endurance (sig 0.684 > α = 0.05). Smoking and BMI accounted for 14.5% of the variance in FVC, while smoking, BMI, and FVC together explained only 9.51% of the variation in aerobic endurance. The study concludes that BMI significantly affects FVC, but neither smoking nor BMI directly impacts aerobic endurance. These findings highlight that endurance is influenced by more than lung capacity alone. Despite no immediate effects of smoking on endurance, its long-term risks remain concerning. Emphasis should be placed on cardiovascular and high-intensity training, along with weight management. Future research should explore factors like oxygen uptake, training intensity, and genetic predispositions to understand endurance performance better.