Do Obese Children Perceive Submaximal and Maximal Exertion Differently?. (January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Belanger, Kevin; Breithaupt, Peter; Ferraro, Zachary M.; Barrowman, Nick; Rutherford, Jane; Hadjiyannakis, Stasia; Colley, Rachel C.; Adamo, Kristi B.
• Is Part Of: Clinical medicine insights. Volume 7(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-01
• Subjects: obesity -- children -- cardiorespiratory fitness -- perceived exertion; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; Pediatric Medicine; Pediatrics; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 618.92005
• DOI: 10.4137/CMPed.S12524
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1179-5565

Abstract

We examined how obese children perceive a maximal cardiorespiratory fitness test compared with a submaximal cardiorespiratory fitness test. Twenty-one obese children (body mass index ≥95th percentile, ages 10–17 years) completed maximal and submaximal cardiorespiratory fitness tests on 2 separate occasions. Oxygen consumption (VO2 ) and overall perceived exertion (Borg 15-category scale) were measured in both fitness tests. At comparable workloads, perceived exertion was rated significantly higher ( P < 0.001) in the submaximal cardiorespiratory fitness test compared with the maximal cardiorespiratory fitness test. The submaximal cardiorespiratory fitness test was significantly longer than the maximal test (14:21 ± 04:04 seconds vs. 12:48 ± 03:27 seconds, P < 0.001). Our data indicate that at the same relative intensity, obese children report comparable or even higher perceived exertion during submaximal fitness testing than during maximal fitness testing. Perceived exertion in a sample of children and youth with obesity may be influenced by test duration and protocol design.