Validity of a two kilometre walking test for estimating maximal aerobic power in overweight adults

In our earlier study a regression model, with heart rate and time in a 2 km fast walk, body mass index (BMI) or weight (kg) and age as explanatory variables, explained 75% of the variation in the VO2max of adults with normal weight. The present study was designed to test whether the prediction model based on a 2km fast walk and simple site measurements is valid in estimating the VO2max of overweight men and women and to compare 1km and 2km test distances. Forty-five women and thirty-two men, BMI 27-40, aged 20-65 years, with no cardiorespiratory or musculoskeletal restrictions for a maximal stress test and fast walk, were studied. The VO2max was determined in an uphill walk to maximal effort on a treadmill. Two walking tests, 1km and 2km, were conducted on a flat dirt road. Heart rate was recorded during the walks, and the mean rate during the last 30 seconds was used in the model. The correlation coefficients between the measured and predicted VO2max in the 2km test were 0.77 for the women and 0.75 for men, corrected for body weight (ml/kg/min), and 0.77 and 0.69 respectively in absolute values (1/min). These results suggest that the 2km walk test previously developed for adults within normal weight limits is a reasonably valid test of the cardiorespiratory fitness of overweight, but otherwise healthy, women and men.