Abstract
The relation between oxygen intake and work intensity was compared between urban and suburban children. Oxygen intake during step work of 18 boys and 25 girls living in the suburbs of Nago city and 22 boys and 21 girls from the center of Fukuoka city was measured. Because the work intensity calculated for each subject from step height and body weight was shown to have significant correlation with oxygen intake, the adjusted oxygen intake for each subject was calculated from the regression equation of the latter on the former. The mean value of adjusted oxygen intake was larger in the following order; boys in Fukuoka city, girls in Fukuoka city, boys in Nago city, and girls in Nago city. This means tendencies that work efficiency is larger in children living in the suburbs than those in the city center and that the girls work more efficiently than boys. The higher work efficiency of Nago children was statistically confirmed, and was considered to be attributable to less physical activities among urban children. The tendency of higher work efficiency in girls was discussed with respect to the relation between work capacity and work intensity.
