Determining the Optimal Workrate for Cycle Ergometer Verification Phase Testing in Males with Obesity

• Main Authors: Jenny M. Mahoney (Author), Brett R. Baughman (Author), Ailish C. Sheard (Author), Brandon J. Sawyer (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2021-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/sports9020030; 2075-4663
• Keywords: maximal oxygen uptake; true VO_2max; males with obesity; verification phase; critical power; Sports; GV557-1198.995
• Source: Sports, Vol 9, Iss 2, p 30 (2021)

The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of verification phase (VP) testing and a 3 min all-out test to determine critical power (CP) in males with obesity. Nine young adult males with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg·m⁻² completed a cycle ergometer ramp-style VO_2max test, four randomized VP tests at 80, 90, 100, and 105% of maximum wattage attained during the ramp test, and a 3 min all-out test. There was a significant main effect for VO_2max across all five tests (<i>p</i> = 0.049). Individually, 8 of 9 participants attained a higher VO_2max (L/min) during a VP test compared to the ramp test. A trend (<i>p</i> = 0.06) was observed for VO_2max during the 90% VP test (3.61 ± 0.54 L/min) when compared to the ramp test (3.37 ± 0.39 L/min). A significantly higher VO_2max (<i>p</i> = 0.016) was found in the VP tests that occurred below 130% of CP wattage (N = 15, VO_2max = 3.76 ± 0.52 L/min) compared to those that were above (N = 21, VO_2max = 3.36 ± 0.41 L/min). Our findings suggest submaximal VP tests at 90% may elicit the highest VO_2max in males with obesity and there may be merit in using % of CP wattage to determine optimal VP intensity.