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Cited by 26Lower Extremity Biomechanics and PathologiesCardiovascular and exercise physiologyBalance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Obesity does not impair walking economy across a range of speeds and grades

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Browning, Raymond C., Reynolds, Michelle M., Board, Wayne J., Walters, Kellie A., Reiser, Raoul F.·2013·Journal of Applied Physiology
DOI 10.1152/japplphysiol.00765.2012PMC PMC3656435
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Abstract

Despite the popularity of walking as a form of physical activity for obese individuals, relatively little is known about how obesity affects the metabolic rate, economy, and underlying mechanical energetics of walking across a range of speeds and grades. The purpose of this study was to quantify metabolic rate, stride kinematics, and external mechanical work during level and gradient walking in obese and nonobese adults. Thirty-two obese [18 women, mass = 102.1 (15.6) kg, BMI = 33.9 (3.6) kg/m 2; mean (SD)] and 19 nonobese [10 women, mass = 64.4 (10.6) kg, BMI = 21.6 (2.0) kg/m 2] volunteers participated in this study. We measured oxygen consumption, ground reaction forces, and lower extremity kinematics while subjects walked on a dual-belt force-measuring treadmill at 11 speeds/grades (0.50–1.75 m/s, −3° to +9°). We calculated metabolic rate, stride kinematics, and external work. Net metabolic rate (Ė net/kg, W/kg) increased with speed or grade across all individuals. Surprisingly and in contrast with previous studies, Ė net/kg was 0–6% less in obese compared with nonobese adults ( P = 0.013). External work, although a primary determinant of Ė net/kg, was not affected by obesity across the range of speeds/grades used in this study. We also developed new prediction equations to estimate oxygen consumption and Ė net/kg and found that Ė net/kg was positively related to relative leg mass and step width and negatively related to double support duration. These results suggest that obesity does not impair walking economy across a range of walking speeds and grades.

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  • Browning et al. reported significantly higher energy expenditure (approximately 8%-15%) in women with obesity compared to women without obesity across multiple treadmill speeds and grades.

    “For example, Browning et al.41 reported significantly higher EE (∼8%–15%) in women with obesity (age = 28.5 ± 7.6 years; body mass index = 33.9 ± 3.6 kg/m2) compared to women without obesity (age = 22.8 ± 3.6 years; body mass index = 21.6 ± 2.0 kg/m2) across multiple treadmill speeds and grades.”

    From 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities: A third update of the energy costs of human activities (2024) · cites this paper as [41]

    The Results (page not available) report significantly higher gross metabolic rate in participants with obesity across all tested speeds and grades, but the analysis included both women and men rather than reporting this comparison specifically for women. The Results’ approximately 8%–15% figure refers to relative aerobic intensity, not energy expenditure; the Discussion (page not available) reports gross metabolic rate as 35%–50% higher. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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Authors
Browning, R. C., Reynolds, M. M., Board, W. J., Walters, K. A., & Reiser, R. F.
Affiliations
Colorado State University (US)
Corresponding author
Browning, Raymond C.
ORCID
Walters, Kellie A.
Venue
Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Published
2013-05-01
Volume
114
Issue
9
Pages
1125-1131
ISSN
  • 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
  • 8750-7587
  • 1522-1601
DOI
10.1152/japplphysiol.00765.2012
PMC
PMC3656435
OpenAlex
W2049205038
Cited by
26
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2
FWCI
1.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Colorado State University
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R03AR059264)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
Keywords
obesity, walking economy, metabolic rate, external mechanical work, walking speed, oxygen consumption, stride kinematics, ground reaction force, prediction equations, step width, double support duration, energy expenditure
MeSH terms
Adult, Basal Metabolism, Biomechanical Phenomena, Energy Metabolism, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, Oxygen Consumption, Case-Control Studies, Walking, Young Adult

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