Comparison of Substrate Oxidation during Walking and Running in Normal-Weight and Overweight/Obese Men

Abstract

<b><i>Objective: </i></b>The aim of the present study is to examine the differences in fat and carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation during walking and running between normal-weight and overweight/obese young adult men. <b><i>Methods: </i></b>19 healthy, normal-weight (age = 21.9 ± 0.7 years, BMI = 22.6 ± 0.4 kg, n = 10) and overweight (age = 21.4 ± 0.6 years, BMI = 31.6 ± 1.1, n = 9) young men volunteered to participate in this study. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. Maximal oxygen uptake and maximal fat oxidation rate were determined with indirect calorimetry by using an incremental exercise test on a motor-driven treadmill. The participants’ individual preferred transition speeds between walking and running were determined. Indirect calorimetry was used to calculate fat and CHO oxidation during the resting, walking and running tests.<b><i> Results: </i></b>Maximal fat oxidation rates during the graded exercise test were not significantly different between the groups. Changes in CHO and fat oxidation in the resting, walking and running tests were similar in the normal-weight and overweight groups. <b><i>Conclusion: </i></b>The study results suggest that with regard to changes in CHO and fat oxidation, normal-weight and overweight/obese individuals have similar responses to walking and running at preferred speeds, despite significant differences in oxygen uptake during activity and body composition.

No Influence of Overweight/Obesity on Exercise Lipid Oxidation: A Systematic Review

“…In 17 studies, a comparison of whole-body [23,[26][27][28][41][42][43][44]46,47,58,59] or whole-body and source-specific [26][27][28]53] lipid oxidation during exercise between individuals who do not possess excess body fatness (most often called 'lean,' but also referred to as 'control,' 'leaner,' 'never obese,' 'nonobese', and 'normal weight') and overweight/obese individuals was a primary purpose. In two of these, the effect of weight loss was also investigated by recruiting obese individuals who had lost weight; however, a third group comprising obese individuals who had not lost weight was also included [26,46].…”

“…In 13 studies, BMI was used exclusively to stratify participants [26,27,34,[41][42][43][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]59]. In two of these, the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system was used to define 'normal' and 'overweight' (BMI, <25 and ≥25 kg•m −2 , respectively) [43,55] while in another, the cutoff point was arbitrary (28 kg•m −2 ) [34]. Additionally, in one study, the WHO system was used to stratify three groups by differentiating obese (BMI, ≥30 kg•m −2 ) from overweight [53] while in another, a BMI of 30 kg•m −2 was used as a threshold to differentiate 'obese' from 'control' [42].…”

“…In 14 studies, participants exercised in the fasted state with no longer-term dietary control [23,26,34,[41][42][43][44]47,52,54,55,[57][58][59]. Five other studies included greater short-term control; for example, in addition to an overnight fast, in two studies, participants exercised after a standardized meal [28] or meal plus snack [53] the evening before while in three others, a standardized breakfast was provided prior to testing [46,50,56].…”

Comparison between continuous and intermittent submaximal exercise at the intensity of maximal fat oxidation

“…Second, energy balance and macro nutrient composition of the diet may influence substrate oxidation rates. The participants were informed about dietary measures and content the previous day before the tests (Jeukendrup and Wallis, 2005;Balci, 2012).…”

“…The frequency, intensity, and duration of an exercise are generally more focused on increasing energy expenditure than on increasing fat oxidation (Rojmin et al, 1993;Phillips et al, 1996;Balci, 2012). Even though there are many studies related to the effect of high intensity interval exercises (Sidossis et al, 1997;Coggan, 2000;Talanian et al, 2007;Trapp et al, 2008) on substrate oxidation, there are few effects of intermittent exercises done with moderate and low intensity in the literature.…”