title: A new equation based on the 6-min walking test to predict VO2peakin women with obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The 6-min walking test (6 MWT) is commonly used to assess obese patients' aerobic fitness, but it has rarely been compared with a direct measurement of maximal aerobic capacities (VO2maxor VO2peak) in obese adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the distance covered during a 6 MWT with objectively measured VO2peakand to propose a new equation to predict VO2peakfrom this walking test in obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-seven obese patients (45.6 ± 12.5 years) admitted to our hospital for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program were enrolled. After assessment of their body composition, the participants were asked to perform a 6 MWT and their maximal aerobic capacities (VO2peak) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a significant linear relation between VO2peakand the distance covered during the 6 MWT (p < 0.001; r = 0.349). The determinant of VO2peakwas body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, fat free mass, leading to the follow prediction equation VO2peaksuch as VO2peak(l/min) = (body mass index ×0.0150065) - (waist-to-hip-ratio × 0.8595088) + (fat-free-mass × 0.0295478) + (6-min walk test ×0.0020672) - 0.5853372.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 6-min walk test is a reliable method to reflect obese women's aerobic capacities and the distance covered can be used to accurately estimate VO2peakaccording to our newly proposed equation. Implication for rehabilitation Obesity is a worldwide disease and physical capacity evaluation is a key point for rehabilitation. The six minutes' walk test is commonly used in obese people to assess aerobic fitness. This study proposes a new equation using 6 MWT performance to estimate VO2peak.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of the Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise under Physiological and Pathological Conditions (AME2P), Clermont Auvergne University , Clermont-Ferrand , France.
authors.forename: Lore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of the Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise under Physiological and Pathological Conditions (AME2P), Clermont Auvergne University , Clermont-Ferrand , France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thivel
authors.affiliation: b Biostatistics Unit (DRCI) , Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital , Clermont-Ferrand , France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peirrera
authors.affiliation: c Unité de Nutrition Humaine , Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne , Clermont-Ferrand , France.|d INRA, UMR 1019 , UNH, CRNH Auvergne , Clermont-Ferrand , France.|e Department of Sport Medicine and Functional Exploration , University Hospital CHU G. Montpied , Clermont-Ferrand , France.
authors.forename: Ruddy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: e Department of Sport Medicine and Functional Exploration , University Hospital CHU G. Montpied , Clermont-Ferrand , France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Julian
authors.affiliation: c Unité de Nutrition Humaine , Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne , Clermont-Ferrand , France.|d INRA, UMR 1019 , UNH, CRNH Auvergne , Clermont-Ferrand , France.|e Department of Sport Medicine and Functional Exploration , University Hospital CHU G. Montpied , Clermont-Ferrand , France.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duclos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D000070857:Walk Test
keywords: 6-min walking test; Obesity; aerobic capacity; exercise