Do overweight and obese individuals select a "moderate intensity" workload when asked to do so?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine if overweight/obese individuals (age 26-50 y) would self-select moderate exercise intensity when asked to do so and (2) to determine how this self-selected workload compared to exercising at a workload (60% peak aerobic capacity) that is known to provide cardioprotective health benefits. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and energy expenditure were measured in 33 men/women (BMI<27 kg/m2) who completed two 30 min walking bouts: (1) self-selected walking pace on an indoor track and (2) prescribed exercise pace (60% VO2 peak) on a treadmill. The data revealed that (1) the prescribed intensity was 6% higher than the self-selected pace and elicited a higher energy expenditure (P<0.05) than the self-selected pace (+83 kJ); (2) overweight subjects walked at a slightly lower percentage of VO2 peak than the obese subjects (P<0.05); (3) men walked at a lower percentage of VO2 peak than the women (P<0.05). In conclusion when asked to walk at a moderate intensity, overweight/obese individuals tended to select a lower workload in the moderate intensity range which could be maintained for 30 min; however, a higher intensity which would be more cardioprotective could not be maintained for 30 min by most individuals. © 2012 Cameron W. Hall et al.