The aim of this study was to investigate the oxygen maximal uptake (VO2max) in obese and non-obese adolescents on treadmill and ergometric bicycle. The study was transversal and descriptive with a sample of 54 obese individuals (23 boys and 31 girls) and 33 non-obese individuals (16 boys and 17 girls), mean age of 10-16 years. The criterion by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2000) was used for classification of body mass index (BMI). Weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and BMI-score Z were assessed. A maximal test on treadmill and ergometric bicycle was performed for cardiorespiratory assessment. Maximum heart rate (HRmax), respiratory coefficient (REC), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), test total time (TT) and final load (w) on ergometric bicycle were assessed. Student's t-test was used for ergometers comparison. Factorial ANOVA was used in the groups'analysis and p< 0.05 was considered significant. The results revealed that weight, BMI and BMI-score Z were higher in the obese subjects. The absolute VO2max (m1-1) values were higher in the obese subjects in both genders on treadmill, with no differences between the bicycle group. However, the VO2max concerned with body weight (m1kg-1min-1) was lower in the obese group and in girls in both ergometers. The workload on bicycle was similar between obese and non-obese subjects. As a conclusion, the obese subjects presented VO2max values lower than the non-obese ones in both ergometers. Nevertheless, the fact that obese subjects can work with the same final load of the non-obese subjects suggests that the bicycle can be considered as the best ergometer for obese individuals.
obesity; VO2max; ergometers
