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J Appl Physiol (October 6, 2005). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00767.2005
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Submitted on June 28, 2005
Accepted on September 29, 2005

Effects of Obesity and Sex on the Energetic Cost and Preferred Speed of Walking

Raymond C. Browning1*, Emily A. Baker1, Jessica A. Herron1, and Rodger Kram1

1 Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: raymond.browning{at}colorado.edu.

The metabolic energy cost of walking is determined, to a large degree, by body mass, but it is not clear how body composition and mass distribution influence this cost. We tested the hypothesis that walking would be most expensive for obese women compared to obese men and normal weight women and men. Further, we hypothesized that for all groups, preferred walking speed would correspond to the speed that minimized the gross energy cost per distance. We measured body composition, V O2max and preferred walking speed of 39 (19 class II obese, 20 normal weight) females and males. We also measured V O2 and V CO2 while the subjects walked on a level treadmill at six speeds (0.50 - 1.75 m/s). Both obesity and sex affected the net metabolic rate (W/kg) of walking. Net metabolic rates of obese subjects were only ~10% greater (per kg) than for normal weight subjects and net metabolic rates for females were ~10% greater than males. The increase in net metabolic rate at faster walking speeds was greatest in obese females compared to the other groups. Preferred walking speed was not different across groups (1.42 m/s) and was near the speed that minimized gross energy cost per distance. Surprisingly, mass distribution (thigh mass/body mass) was not related to net metabolic rate, but body composition (% fat) was (r2=0.43). Detailed biomechanical studies of walking are needed to investigate if obese individuals adopt novel energy saving mechanisms during walking.




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