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Vol. 46. Issue 169.
Pages 11-15 (January - March 2011)
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Vol. 46. Issue 169.
Pages 11-15 (January - March 2011)
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Velocidad de caminata autoseleccionada en adultos con sobrepeso: ¿es suficiente esta intensidad para promover los beneficios de la salud? 
Self selected walking speed in overweight adults: Is this intensity enough to promote health benefits?
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Bruno Pereira de Mouraa, João Carlos B. Marinsa, Paulo Roberto S. Amorima,
Corresponding author
pramorim@ufv.br

Corresponding author. pramorim@ufv.br
a Viçosa Federal University, Biological Sciences Centre, Physical Education Department, Viçosa, Brazil
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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 ≥25kgm−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.

Keywords:
Exercise intensity
Walking
Self-selected speed
Physical activity
Overweight
Introducción y objetivo

Caminar es, a menudo, la modalidad de actividad física recomendada para incrementar los niveles de actividad enfocados a mejorar el estado de salud. De todas formas, ignoramos cómo los adultos con sobrepeso seleccionan la intensidad de su caminata rápida. El objetivo se centra en evaluar esta velocidad.

Métodos

Evaluamos 50 hombres (41,7±5,4 años) que realizaban caminatas sin asistencia profesional. La intensidad del ejercicio era monitorizada por las pulsaciones y también por el esfuerzo percibido. Se realizaron mediciones antropométricas de peso, altura, contorno de cintura y de cadera. La muestra se dividió en dos grupos por categorías de índice de masa corporal (IMC): G1 (IMC<25kgm−2)=«Peso normal» y G2 (IMC ≥25kgm−2)=«Sobrepeso». Se empleó el test t para muestras independientes, con p<0,05.

Resultados

El test t mostró diferencias significativas entre grupos en las siguientes variables: peso corporal, cintura/cadera y contorno de cintura (p≤0,001). Se verificó con análisis de pulsaciones que un elevado porcentaje de participantes seleccionaron su propia velocidad al caminar a niveles más altos que la clasificación de «moderado», en ambos grupos.

Conclusión

Se puede concluir que la intensidad autoseleccionada de caminar era adecuada para un amplio número de participantes que siguieron las recomendaciones del American College of Sports Medicine, principalmente en el grupo de peso normal. No obstante, una parte importante del grupo con sobrepeso realiza ejercicio con una intensidad inadecuada, teniendo en cuenta su edad y su peso. Particularmente para este grupo, es recomendable una guía de ejercicio por razones de seguridad.

Palabras clave:
Intensidad de ejercicio
Paseo
Velocidad autoseleccionada
Actividad física
Sobrepeso
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