The energetic and cardiovascular response to treadmill walking and cycle ergometer exercise in obese women

Abstract

Physical activity is essential in obesity management, but exercise capacity is compromised in obese individuals due to the excessive body mass, impacting on body movement's energetics, and to the dysfunctions of regulatory mechanisms, affecting cardiovascular responses. This study aims to compare the energetics and cardiovascular responses of walking and cycling in obese women, and to formulate recommendations regarding the most suitable type of exercise for obesity. Fifteen obese (OB) and six normal weight (NW) women exercised on treadmill (TM) and cycle ergometer (CE). During both exercise modalities, metabolic rate was higher in OB than in NW and correlated with measures of body mass. Leg movement metabolic rate during cycling depended upon individual adiposity, and when accounted for, mechanical efficiency was similar in the two groups. When accounting for extra mass, differences in metabolic rate among groups are abolished for CE, indicating no obesity impairment of muscle efficiency, but not for TM, suggesting that differences in biomechanics may explain the higher net cost of transport of OB. In both groups, HR was higher during CE than TM at the same oxygen uptake (VO(2)), but in OB the HR increment over VO(2) was greater for CE than for TM. Therefore, due to different cardiovascular responses to TM and CE in OB, walking is more convenient, enabling OB to attain target energy expenditure at lower HR or in a shorter time.

The Effect of Water Depth on Energy Expenditure and Perception of Effort in Female Subjects While Walking

“…On land, body weight significantly influences the absolute metabolic cost of walking (Lafortuna et al, 2008), similar to the relationship in ATM water depth of -10 cm; however, as water depth increased (xip and +10 cm), the magnitude of this relationship diminished. The buoyancy of subjects is determined by body composition (and indirectly BMI).…”

“…Walking is often recommended for overweight and obese individuals because of its practical nature (Brill, Perry, Parker, Robinson, & Burnett, 2002) and may be more convenient than other activities (Lafortuna, Agosti, Galli, Busti, Lazzer, & Sartorio, 2008). Unfortunately, walking on land places stress on the joints of the lower extremity and perhaps apply biomechanical loads that foster the development of orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis (Griffin & Guilak, 2005).…”

The significance of post-operative rehabilitation in obese and overweight patients

“…Wykonanie większości ruchów wymaga od nich większego nakładu pracy mechanicznej, a więc i energii, niż od normosteników. Wielkość tej pracy jest proporcjonalna do masy przemieszczanego ciała (lub jego części) [40]. Na przykład podczas zwykłego marszu osoby otyłe w porównaniu z osobami o prawidłowej masie ciała potrzebują (w zależności od stopnia otyłości, prędkości marszu i stopnia nachylenia podłoża) ok. 1,8-2,3 razy więcej energii [40][41][42].…”

“…Wielkość tej pracy jest proporcjonalna do masy przemieszczanego ciała (lub jego części) [40]. Na przykład podczas zwykłego marszu osoby otyłe w porównaniu z osobami o prawidłowej masie ciała potrzebują (w zależności od stopnia otyłości, prędkości marszu i stopnia nachylenia podłoża) ok. 1,8-2,3 razy więcej energii [40][41][42]. Badania pokazują jednak, że nie tylko masa ciała, ale także rozmieszczenie tkanki tłuszczowej ma znaczenie w tym wydatku energetycznym -otyłość wisceralna generuje większy.…”

“…The performance of most motions requires them to put in more mechanical work and use more energy, compared to normostenics. The work is proportional to the weight of the body that moves (or a part thereof) [40]. For instance, when marching obese people need around 1.8--2.3 (depending on the degree of obesity, march speed and slope angle) more energy than people with the right weight [40][41][42].…”