title: Ethnic differences in the consistency and accuracy of perceived exertion.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of weight loss and weight regain on accuracy of perceived exertion (APE) in previously overweight African American (AA) and European American (EA) women.
  
  
  
  Formerly overweight women (n = 102, age 20-44 years) completed a weight loss program to achieve BMI < 25 kg/m(2) . Physiological variable of exertion and rating of perceived exertion (RPE, Borg's 6-20 Scale) were recorded during submaximal aerobic exercise prior to, immediately following, and approximately 1 year after weight loss. APE was defined as the composite score of physiological variables (heart rate, ventilation rate, and respiratory exchange ratio) minus RPE.
  
  
  
  APE was significantly different from the composite score of physiological variables at baseline and at 1-year follow-up for EA women (0.347 ± 0.88 P < 0.05 and 0.53 ± 0.92, P < 0.01, respectively) and at 1-year follow-up for AA (-0.37 ± 1.1, P < 0.01). EA women had lower physiological effort at baseline and 1-year follow-up states (-0.24 ± 0.66 P < 0.05; and, -0.27 ± 0.84 P < 0.05, respectively). AA women had higher physiological effort, at 1-year follow-up state (0.21 ± 0.61, P < 0.01).
  
  
  
  Physiologic effort and perceived exertion contributed independently to the racial differences in APE, and APE may be an important trait to evaluate before planning an exercise intervention. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:398-404, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294.
authors.forename: S Katherine
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sweatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandler-Laney
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, 05405.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight; D010465:Perception; D005082:Physical Exertion; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult