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The aim of this study was to examine physiological, perceptual, and affective responses during self-paced walking for three age groups. 66 adult women were assigned into three groups by age: 20-25 yr. (n = 22), 30-35 yr. (n = 22), and 40-45 yr. (n=22). Each participant completed a maximal exercise test and a 20-min. bout of walking at a self-selected pace. The preferred walking speed was similar for all age groups, whereas physiological responses relative to maximal and ventilatory threshold values were greater in the 40-45 yr. group than the other two groups. Nevertheless, perceptual and affective responses were similar for all age groups. These findings suggest that physiological responses, but not perceptual and affective responses, of sedentary women are associated with age during walking at a self-selected pace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of adiposity (%body fat) on physiological, perceptual, and affective responses during walking. 45 women were divided into low, medium, and high tertiles according to %body fat. Each participant completed a maximal exercise test and a 20-min. bout of walking at a self-selected pace. The preferred walking speed was similar among groups, whereas %VO2 max was greater in the high tertile group compared with the other two groups. Nevertheless, perceptual and affective responses were similar between the groups. These findings suggest that physiological responses relative to maximal capacity, but not perceptual and affective responses, of sedentary women are influenced by adiposity during walking at a self-selected pace. However, when the physiological responses are relative to ventilatory threshold, there are no differences between individuals with different levels of adiposity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this investigation was to establish a group-normalized perceptual response, using the Borg 15-category rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, that is consistent with the Surgeon General's recommendations for physical activity intensity. This normalized response is defined as a range of RPEs corresponding to a target physiological outcome during exercise common to a specified group of individuals. 24 college-age students (12 men; 12 women) underwent a progressive exercise test administered on a semi recumbent leg cycle machine to estimate VO[sub 2] peak and 12 6-min. exercise trials on a combined arm and leg exercise machine. Three trials were conducted per day, and at least 24 hr. separated testing sessions. RPEs between 7 and 10 were consistently estimated during trials categorized as light to moderately intense (35 to 53% VO[sub 2] peak). These exercise intensities resulted in an energy expenditure of between 5.38 (SD=1.37) to 7.56 (SD=0.60) and 3.58 (SD=0.58) to 5.30 (SD=0.97) kcal·min.[sup -1] for these men and women, respectively. RPEs corresponding to 7: extremely light to 10: very light or light are sufficient in healthy young college students to achieve the target activity with respect to exercise intensity. Therefore, this group normalized perceptual response, i.e., RPE=7 to 10, may be expressed as a prescriptive reference enabling college-age individuals to produce an exercise intensity designed to promote health and studied longitudinally to assess the effects long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]