Peak Power Output Can Be Used To Estimate VO2Peak In Obese Adolescent Males & Females

Abstract

Obese adolescents are not commonly tested for VO2peak and access to direct measures is limited. Weight bearing tests such as a shuttle run test or treadmill test are not always well tolerated in this population. Measurement of cycle ergometer peak power output (PPO) closely correlated VO2peak in well trained cyclists (Hawley & Noakes 1992) but this has not been determined for obese adolescents. PURPOSE It was hypothesised that PPO could be used to estimate VO2peak in an obese adolescent population. METHODS We determined PPO and VO2peak for 29 male and 32 female obese adolescents (male and female M ± SD, 13.6±1.7 and 14.4±1.9 years, 89.3±18.5 and 91.2±20.3 kg, 168.5±9.2 and 165.0 ± 9.6 cm). RESULTS Mean VO2peak and PPO for males and females were (male and female, M ± SE) 28.6±1.2 and 23.1 ± 0.9 ml·min−1.kg−1, 181.3 ± 8.0 and 165.1 ± 5.3 Watts respectively. Measured VO2peak significantly correlated with PPO for males (r=0.44, p<0.05, and females r=0.42, p<0.05). CONCLUSION It is concluded that PPO is a reasonable predictor of VO2peak in obese adolescents. Factors such as levels of motivation, body weight pushing through pedals may explain some of the variance. This test can be used when access to online metabolic systems is limited or when other tests are not appropriate.