USING A VERIFICATION TEST FOR DETERMINATION OF (V)over dotO2MAX IN SEDENTARY ADULTS WITH OBESITY

Sawyer, BJ, Tucker, WJ, Bhammar, DM, and Gaesser, GA. Using a verification test for determination of VO2max in sedentary adults with obesity. J Strength Cond Res 29( 12): 3432-3438, 2015-A constant-load exercise bout to exhaustion after a graded exercise test to verify maximal oxygen uptake ( VO2max) during cycle ergometry has not been evaluated in sedentary adults with obesity. Nineteen sedentary men ( n = 10) and women ( n = 9) with obesity ( age = 35.8 +/- 8.6 years; body mass index [BMI] = 35.9 +/- 5.1 kg center dot m22; body fat percentage = 44.9 +/- 7.2) performed a ramp- style maximal exercise test ( ramp), followed by 5-10 minutes of active recovery, and then performed a constantload exercise bout to exhaustion ( verification test) on a cycle ergometer for determination of VO2max and maximal heart rate (HRmax). VO2max did not differ between tests ( ramp: 2.29 +/- 0.71 L center dot min(-1), verification: 2.34 +/- 0.67 L center dot min(-1); p = 0.38). Maximal heart rate was higher on the verification test ( 177 6 13 b center dot min(-1) vs. 174 +/- 16 b center dot min(-1); p = 0.03). Thirteen subjects achieved a VO2max during the verification test that was >= 2% (range: 2.0- 21.0%; 0.04- 0.47 L center dot min(-1)) higher than during the ramp test, and 8 subjects achieved a HRmax during the verification test that was 4-14 b center dot min(-1) higher than during the ramp test. Duration of verification or ramp tests did not affect VO2max results, but the difference in HRmax between the tests was inversely correlated with ramp test duration ( r = 20.57, p = 0.01). For both VO2max and HRmax, differences between ramp and verification tests were not correlated with BMI or body fat percentage. A verification test may be useful for identifying the highest VO2max and HRmax during cycle ergometry in sedentary adults with obesity.