Influence of weight loss programmes on walking speed and relative oxygen cost (%VO2max) in obese women during walking.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate effects of dieted weight reduction on walking ability in obese women.


METHODS
Fifty-seven obese women 44.1 +/- 10.7 years, body mass index 37.1 +/- 3.4 kg x m(-2) performed an indoor walking test. Speed, oxygen consumption and heart rate were measured, perceived exertion and pain graded and oxygen cost calculated. Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max/kg) was predicted from a submaximum bicycle ergometry test. All tests were measured at baseline, after 12 weeks' weight reduction and after 52 weeks' maintenance.


RESULTS
Despite a partial weight relapse, improvements were seen in body mass index, self-selected walking speed, VO2max/kg, heart rate, perceived exertion and relative oxygen cost of walking (% VO2max).


CONCLUSIONS
A modest weight reduction of 10% in moderately-to-severely obese women significantly improved their walking ability, perceived exertion and %VO2max. When dealing with obese women, attention should be drawn to these positive effects, instead of focusing only on the magnitude of the weight loss.
Larsson
Ulla Evers
UE
Neurotec Department, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. ulla.evers.larsson@neurotec.ki.se
Mattsson
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*