Abstract
Aims: To evaluate stress tolerance in obese children using a sub-maximal intensity field test and an ergospirometry with maximal stress on a treadmill and study the correlation between the principle variables of both tests.
Methods: It is a descriptive transversal study carried out amongst obese children from 6 to 14 years old with a control group of normal-weight children. A 6MWT and an ergospirometry on a treadmill with an incremental maximal stress protocol according to the ERS/ATS recommendations were carried out on the obese children. On the control group, the 6MWT was carried out.
Results: A total of 28 obese children (17 male,61%) were studied, with an average age of 10.90years old (±2.43) and a BMI of 27.61kg/m2 (±3.46). The average 6MWD was 539.4metres (±44.60), which makes up 92.94% (±11.27) of the theoretical. The Hrmax in the 6MWT was 70.10% (±7.24) of the maximum and the perceived effort scale (PE) was 6.8 (±1.6). The VO2peak was 35.64ml/kg/min (±5.86), placing itself at 83.21% (±5.86) of the theoretical. The Hrmax was 192.43bpm (±10.10) which makes up 92.05% (±5.17) of the maximum. The RER was 1.15 (±0.13) and the PE was 9.40 (± 0.84). The correlation between the 6MWD and the VO2peak was not significant (p>0.05). In the group of normal-weight children, the 6MWD was 95.5% (±7.56) of the theoretical, the Hrmax% was 60.75% (±7.96) and the average on the PE was 5.1 (±3.2). Significant differences (p≤0.05) were found between the PE and the Hrmax% reached between the group of normal-weight and the obese children.
Conclusions: The obese children are able to maintain the distance walked in the sub-maximal stress test at the expense of a greater maximal heart rate and a greater stress perception than the normal-weight children.
- © 2011 ERS
