Respiratory Consequences of Mild-to-Moderate Obesity: Impact on Exercise Performance in Health and in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Figure 3

Oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide output (VCO₂), minute ventilation (𝑉_𝐸), the ventilatory equivalent for CO₂ (𝑉_𝐸/VCO₂), and dyspnea intensity are shown to be relative to cycle work rate in normal weight (NW) and obese (OB) women. Relationships between dyspnea intensity and ventilation during exercise were similar in OB and NW, thus, increased dyspnea ratings at a given work rate in OB reflected the higher ventilator requirements at that work rate. Values are means ± SEM. ^∗𝑃<0.05 OB versus NW at a given work rate. Data from Ofir et al. [11].