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/m2, 235.1 ± 69.7 w for BMI between 35 and 39.9 kg/m2, 270.2 ± 86.5 w for BMI over 40 kg/m2. 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/m2, 169.2 ± 39.4 w for BMI between 30 and 34.9 kg/m2, 179.5 ± 48.8 w f179.5 ± 48.8 w for BMI between 35 and 39.9 kg/m2 and 202.3 ± 57.3 w for BMI of 40 kg/m2 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.