Association Among Different Aerobic Threshold Markers and FATmax in Men With Obesity

Factors Determining the Agreement between Aerobic Threshold and Point of Maximal Fat Oxidation: Follow-Up on a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Association

“…Therefore, the discrepancies in the training regimens (e.g., cycling vs. running), and the fitness level (e.g., moderately trained vs. athletes) of active individuals considered in this meta-analysis could lead toward a larger inter-subject variability in AerT, due to variations in sport-specific physiological demands. Indeed, the intra-individual coefficient of variation (CV) of the AerT was higher in the studies performed on active individuals (CV: 3-54%) [16,29,41,51,54] in comparison to those studies performed on inactive subjects (CV: 12-45%) [25,28,50,53,55]. Furthermore, similar factors have been reported to affect the FAT max [5,30].…”

“…This analytical procedure previously showed a poor agreement and association with the AerT on trained individuals [57] and men with obesity [55]. Indeed, studies defined the AerT as the exercise intensity at which lactate started to accumulate, showing a sustained increment in the bloodstream [28,29,55]. This analytical procedure showed a stronger association and a good agreement between AerT and FAT max in both trained and sedentary individuals [57,58].…”

“…Moreover, the studies of Bircher et al [24] and Michallet et al [26] defined the AerT as the exercise intensity at which blood lactate increased 0.5 mmol above baseline. This analytical procedure previously showed a poor agreement and association with the AerT on trained individuals [57] and men with obesity [55]. Indeed, studies defined the AerT as the exercise intensity at which lactate started to accumulate, showing a sustained increment in the bloodstream [28,29,55].…”

“…It is noticeable that when exercise intensity is expressed in mL/kg/min, three of the five studies evaluating inactive subjects examined patients with obesity [24,50,55], suggesting that, in this population, using AerT to prescribe exercise can yield intensities relatively within the FAT max zone, with small differences between FAT max and the AerT intensities. Additional studies investigating the agreement between the lactate threshold and FAT max in inactive individuals with obesity when %VO 2max is used are needed as only Chávez-Guevara et al [55] defined the AerT by using both lactate and gas analysis. The analysis of blood lactate concentration may be a valuable alternative to gas exchange as it allows clinicians and healthcare practitioners to identify FAT max in field-based settings.…”