A Comparative Study of Selected Anthropometric Variables and Health Related Fitness Parameters of High and Low Altitude Male Residents of Himachal Pradesh

Keeping in view the lack of information about health related fitness of the residents of himachal pradesh, the present study was carried out on 400 males of himachal pradesh, out of which 200 were taken from high altitude(>2200 m) and 200 were taken from low altitude (<300 m). The subjects were divided into four groups of 5 years interval. Four components of health related physical fitness namely cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance/strength, flexibility were assessed using standard techniques. The results clearly indicate excellent level of vo2 max in male residents residing at high altitude, even the results of muscular strength/endurance were found to be pretty good in the residents of high altitude. In terms of curl ups for muscular strength surprisingly the residents of 30-45 age group inhabiting low altitude were found to have more strength than the residents of same age group inhabiting high altitude. The findings of the variables are discussed at length in the paper.