Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025

A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers
Published on: January 28, 2020
Similar maximal aerobic capacity but lower energy efficiency during low-to-moderate exercise in women with
Julien Verney1, Céline Lambert2, Laurie Isacco3
1Laboratory of the Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise Under Physiological and Pathological Conditions (AME2P), Clermont Auvergne University, CS 60026, 63178, Aubière Cedex, France. julien.verney@uca.fr.
Purpose:
Individuals with constitutional thinness have been presented with a lower muscular energy metabolism at the cellular level but their effective aerobic capacities and exercise-related energy efficiency remains unexplored. The present study compares maximal and sub-maximal aerobic capacities between subjects with constitutional thinness and age-matched normal-weight ones.
Methods:
Anthropometric measures, body composition (Dual-X-ray absorptiometry), physical activity and sedentary time (GT3x actigraphs), and maximal aerobic capacities (cycling 2peak test) were assessed in 18 constitutionally thin (CT-body mass index < 17.5 kg m-2) and 17 normal-weight (NW-body mass index between 20 and 25 kg m-2) women. Energy efficiency was assessed during a submaximal cycling test and a walking exercise.
Results:
CT had a lower body mass and body mass index compared to NW. Absolute peak oxygen uptake and maximal aerobic power were lower in CT subjects compared to NW (ES: - 1.63 [- 2.40; - 0.86] and - 1.32 [- 2.05; - 0.58], p < 0.001). 2peak related to body mass was not different between groups. Gross and net efficiency (ES: - 0.78 [- 1.48; - 0.06], p = 0.03 and ES: - 0.73 [- 1.43; - 0.01], p = 0.05) were lower in CT compared to NW during the submaximal cycling exercise. The gross energy cost of walking related to body mass was lower in subjects with CT (ES: - 1.80 [- 2.60; - 0.97, p = 0.05), with no difference for the net one. Perceived exertion was similar between groups in responses to both submaximal exercises.
Conclusion:
Constitutionally thin women do not show impaired aerobic capacities at moderate to maximal intensities despite lower energy efficiency while cycling and walking at low-to-moderate intensities.
More Related Videos
07:26Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
12:59Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Lung Capacity
Metabolic States of the Body: The Postabsorptive State
Initially, glycogen stored in the liver is broken down to release glucose into the bloodstream, while glycogen in the muscles is broken down to supply glucose for energy directly within the muscle cells. As glycogen stores diminish,...
Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation
Respiratory Capacities
One key metric is the Inspiratory Capacity (IC), which represents the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled with full effort. IC is calculated by summing the tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume, typically ranging from 2.4 to 3.6 liters.
The Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) represents the air in the...
Energy Budgets
Metabolic States of the Body: The Absorptive State