Abstract

Background: The evaluation of physical fitness is important to determine workloads and to assess the effectiveness of exercise interventions in obese people. Aim: To determine the maximum aerobic power output (MAPO) in overweight and obese individuals and to establish reference parameters for the Chilean population. Material and Methods: One hundred five men and 218 women performed a cycle ergometer test up to 85% of their maximum heart rate. MAPO was determined by linear extrapolation of the theoretical maximum heart rate. Results: Among men, MAPO values were 234.9 +/- 48.4 w for body mass index (BMI) values between 30 and 34.9 kg/m(2), 235.1 +/- 69.7 w for BMI between 35 and 39.9 kg/m(2) , 270.2 +/- 86.5 w for BMI over 40 kg/m(2). MAPO relative values were 2.27 +/- 0.5, 2.16 +/- 0.6 and 1.96 +/- 0.8 w/kg, respectively. Among women, MAPO was 172.6 36.1 w for a BMI < 30 kg/m(2), 169.2 39.4 w for BMI between 30 and 34.9 kg/m(2), 179.5 +/- 48.8 w f179.5 +/- 48.8 w for BMI between 35 and 39.9 kg/m(2) and 202.3 +/- 57.3 w for BMI of 40 kg/m(2) or over. The relative values were 2.33 +/- 0.5; 2.02 +/- 0.5; 1.91 +/- 0.5 and 1.81 +/- 0.5 w / kg (p < 0.05). Conclusions: MAPO estimation with a cycle ergometer test is well tolerated in overweight and obese individuals. MAPO decreased along with BMI increments in women. No association between BMI and MAPO in men was observed.