Self selected walking speed in overweight adults: Is this intensity enough to promote health benefits?

Introduction and objective: Walking is the most often indicated physical activity modality to increase population physical activity levels aiming to improve health-related conditions. However, we do not know how overweight adults self-selected the intensity of their walking speed. The objective was to evaluate the self-selected walking speed in overweight adults. Methods: We evaluated 50 men (41.7 +/- 5.4 years), who performed walking without professional guidance. The exercise intensity was monitored by heart rate, and also by the perceived exertion. We performed anthropometric measurements of body weight, height, waist circumference and hip. The sample was divided into two groups by body mass index (BMI) categories: G1 (BMI < 25kgm(-2)) = << Normal Weight >> and G2 (BMI >= 25 kgm(-2)) = << Overweight >>. Was used t test for independent samples, with p < 0.05. Results: The t test showed significant difference between groups for the following variables: body weight, waist hip ratio (WRH) and waist circumference (p <= 0,001). It was verified, by the heart rate analyses, an elevated percentage of participants who did their self-selected walking intensity choices at higher levelsthan the << moderate >> classification, in both groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the self-selected walking intensity was adequate for the largest part of the participants in attending American College of Sports Medicine recommendations, mainly in normal weight group. However large part of the evaluated sample in overweight group is exercising at inadequate intensity, considering their age and weight conditions. Particularly for this group, professional exercise guidance has to be recommended for safety reasons. (C) 2010 Consell Catala de l'Esport. Generalitat de Catalunya. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.