Prediction of peak oxygen uptake from age and power output at RPE 15 in obese women.

The purpose of this study was to develop a simple, convenient and indirect method for predicting peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) from a sub-maximal graded exercise test (GXT), in obese women. Thirty obese women performed GXT to volitional exhaustion. During GXT, oxygen uptake and the power at RPE 15 (VO2peak) were measured, and VO2peak was determined. Following assessment of the relationships between VO2peak and PRPE 15, age, height and mass were made available in a stepwise multiple regression analysis with VO2peak as the dependent variable. The equation to predict VO2peak was: (1 min-1) = 1.355 - 9.920e-3 x age + 8.497e-3 x PRPE 15 (r = 0.83; SEE = 0.156 l min(-1)). This study suggests that age and PRPE 15 elicited during a sub-maximal GXT provides a reasonably accurate prediction of VO2peak in obese women.

Prediction of peak oxygen uptake from sub-maximal ratings of perceived exertion elicited during a graded exercise test in obese women.

The purpose was to assess the validity of predicting peak oxygen uptake (.VO(2)peak) from Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE)< or =15, during a graded exercise test (GXT), in obese women. Forty-three obese women performed GXT to volitional exhaustion. During GXT, oxygen uptake (.VO(2)) and RPE were measured. Individual linear regressions between .VO(2) and RPE< or =15 were extrapolated to RPE 20 in order to predict .VO(2)peak. Actual and predicted .VO(2)peak were not significantly different (13.9+/-3.0 vs 14.2+/-3.3 ml kg(-1) min(-1), respectively; p=.26). The Pearson product moment correlation between actual and predicted .VO(2)peak was high (r=0.82). The 95% limits of agreement analysis on these values (bias+/-1.96SD) was -0.3+/-3.7 ml kg(-1) min(-1). Results suggested that RPE< or =15 elicited during a sub-maximal GXT provides accurate .VO(2)peak prediction. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform GXT to voluntary exhaustion to determine .VO(2)peak in obese women.