Comparison between FAT Max and Maximal Fat Oxidation in Active and Sedentary Males

The purpose of this study was to determine appropriate intensity of activity with FATmax during incremental exercise in the active and sedentary male participants. In this study, 11 active male students(VO2max42.87±1.75ml.kg-1.min-1,BMI 21.40±1.01 kg.m2) and 9 sedentary male students(VO2max36.57±2.95ml.kg-1.min-1, BMI 24.28±1.83kg.m2) were selected as the active and sedentary groups. Participants performed an incremental test with three minutes intervals on the treadmill. Exercise intensity was measured in all phases by measuring oxygen consumption. Also, heart rate and the fat oxidation was measured using indirect calorimetric. Independent t-test was used to compare the mean FATmax in the two groups. Also two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) with repeated measurements was used to compare FATmax at 7 levels of exercise intensity between the two groups at α≤0.05 confidence interval level. Also, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to measure the relationship between VO2max and maximal fat oxidation(MFO). There was no significant difference between FAT max of the active and sedentary groups, in terms of VO2max and HRmax percentage, but the difference between MFO in the active and sedentary groups was significant(p=0.001). The results also showed that there are significant differences in fat oxidation during 7 levels of intensity training between the active and sedentary males(p=0.001). Also, there was a significant correlation between VO2max and FATmax of two groups(p=0.002). Based on the results, it can be concluded that the active participants, due to their physiological adaptations with exercise, showed significant higher fat oxidation at FATmax point and all phases of exercise intensity.