Do Obese Children Achieve Maximal Heart Rate during Treadmill Running?

Sveinung Berntsen,Elisabeth Edvardsen,Magnhild Kolsgaard,Shlomi Gerbi,Sigmund Anderssen

doi:10.3390/sports7010026

Sveinung Berntsen, Elisabeth Edvardsen + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7010026

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Abstract

Objective: Maximal heart rate (HR) is commonly defined as the highest HR obtained during a progressive exercise test to exhaustion. Maximal HR is considered one of the criteria to assess maximum exertion in exercise tests, and is broadly used when prescribing exercise intensity. The aim of the present study was to compare peak HR measurements during maximal treadmill running and active play in obese children and adolescents. Design: Comparison of peak heart rate during active play vs. maximal treadmill running in 39 (7–17 years old, 18 males) obese children and adolescents. Methods: Heart rate was recorded during intensive active play sessions, as well as during a progressive running test on a treadmill until exhaustion. HR, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and oxygen uptake were continuously measured during the test. The criteria for having reached maximal effort was a subjective assessment by the technician that the participants had reached his or her maximal effort, and a RER above 1.00 or reporting perceived exertion (RPE) above 17 using the Borg-RPE6–20-Scale. Results: Thirty-four children had a RER ≥1.00, and 37 reported a RPE ≥ 17. Thirty-two children fulfilled both criteria. During active play, peak HR was significantly (p < 0.0001) increased (4%) (mean and 95% confidence intervals; 204 (201, 207) beats/min), compared to during maximal treadmill running (196 (194, 199) beats/min), respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that peak heart rate measurements during progressive running to exhaustion in obese children and adolescents cannot necessarily be determined as maximal heart rate.

Highlights

Behavioral lifestyle interventions focusing on physical activity may have the potential to reduce level of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents [1]
The fact that the active play protocol in the present study showed that the same average child had a significantly higher peak heart rate (HR), illustrates that the average child with a HR of 135 bpm during exercise may be classified as low intensity, instead of moderate intensity [28]
In conclusion, obese children tested for peak HR in two different environments had significantly higher peak HR during free play compared to treadmill running

Summary

Introduction

Behavioral lifestyle interventions focusing on physical activity may have the potential to reduce level of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents [1]. Encouraging or participating in active play sessions has been reported to stimulate to increased energy expenditure [2] or physical activity level among obese children [3]. In order to encourage lifestyle changes in children, physical activity or exercise training should be enjoyable, age-specific, and adapted to the child’s fitness level [4]. To tailor exercise intensity to the child’s cardiorespiratory fitness level or to prescribe an intensity zone based on maximal heart rate (HRmax), e.g., above 80% of their HRmax, cardiopulmonary exercise testing with measures of peak HR is common and recommended [5,6].

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