Aim: To determine the effects of heart rate reserve on reduced exercise performance in obese subjects.

Material and Methods: Total of 25 obese female (Body Mass Index, BMI = 38.2±5.2 kg/m²) were participated a progressively increasing work rate (15 W/min) exercise test. Anaerobic threshold (aerobic-anaerobic metabolic transition) was estimated non-invasively using ventilation-metabolic relationship. Heart rate was monitored using polar heart watch.

Results: Maximal work rate, anaerobic threshold and work production for each kilogram body weight were found to be 93.6±17 W, 61.8±9 W and 1.013±0.24 W/kg, respectively. Heart rate reserve in obese subjects was 79.4±19 beat and 60% of heart rate reserve (133.4±17 beat/min) used in warm-up period and 78 % (147.8±16 beat/min) in aerobic exercise region. There were a negative linear correlation between BMI and heart rate reserve (R= -0.458, P= 0.02) and a positive linear correlation between heart rate reserve and work production capacity (R= 0.569, P= 0.002).

Conclusion: Ineffective utilisation of heart rate reserve reduced work production capacity which results weight gain. Thus, it should be consider an exercise training programme in obesity treatment which provides an effective utilisation of heart rate reserve.