Improvement in 6-min Walk Test Distance Following Treatment for Behavioral Weight Loss and Disinhibited Eating: an Exploratory Secondary Analysis

Contribution of lung function in predicting distance covered in the 6-min walk test in obese Brazilian women

“…In fact, our study showed that BMI was the factor that most impacted 6MWD, explaining 56% of the variance in 6MWD. Our findings are in line with those of Wooldridge et al ( 6 ) who observed in a sample of overweight or obese American military veterans (81% men) that BMI is the variable most significantly related to 6MWD. Investigating the magnitude of the differences in walking capacity among obese and non-obese women, another study found that 75% of the variation in walking performance in obese women is explained by the combination of BMI, peak VO 2 , knee extension torque, age, and hours watching television or playing sports, with BMI alone explaining 59% of the variation ( 5 ).…”

“…The 6MWT is a measure of submaximal load and is a safe, practical, validated, easy-to-administer, low-cost tool to assess functional exercise capacity ( 6 ). In obese individuals, a lower functional exercise capacity is common not only because it is a weight-bearing activity but also because excess weight changes the center of gravity and increases mechanical stress on the joints and body tissues, inducing physical limitations ( 19 ).…”

“…Reference values of healthy populations with normal weight are of limited value in the obese population, since their lower muscle strength, lower effort tolerance, and higher metabolic costs during walking result in a consistently lower 6MWD ( 7 ). Some previous studies have addressed 6MWD determinants for obese subjects and proposed reference equations without considering lung function parameters ( 2 , 4 , 6 – 8 ). Most of these studies have incorporated age, sex, height, weight, and/or BMI into their predictive equations ( 2 , 4 , 6 , 24 ).…”

“…Walking is the most accessible exercise modality for weight control. Performance tests, such as the 6-min walk test (6MWT), may reveal the limitations in the cardiorespiratory and motor functions underlying obesity-related disability ( 4 , 6 ). In this sense, determining the relationship between the 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and the demographic and functional variables of obese subjects may help to better understand the mechanisms involved in their reduced functional exercise capacity.…”

“…Some variables, such as age, anthropometric data, body composition, muscle strength, and disability, seem to have different degrees of impact on the 6MWD of obese individuals ( 4 , 6 , 7 ). Despite the importance of evaluating the performance of obese subjects during the 6MWT, few studies have analyzed the correlates of 6MWD in obese subjects.…”