Ratings of perceived exertion and energy expenditure during light to moderate activity

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 VO2 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% VO2 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 x min.(-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.