The purpose of this study was to examine cardiorespiratory responses during exercise tests as determined by the cycle ergometer in thirty-seven mildly obese patients, aged 28 to 69 years old participated [Body Mass Index (BMI); 28.1 ± 1.5 kg/m
2] and 26 moderately obese patients, aged 20 to 67 years old (BMI; 32.7 ± 1.7 kg/m2). To evaluate the physical fitness, a graded cycling exercise test was performed, monitoring gas exchange, ventilation and heart rate. The following results were obtained: (1) BMI and percentage fat (% fat) had a positive correlation in obese patients. (2) The maximum oxygen uptake (VO
2 max) and maximum heart rate (HR max) did not change in either group, while the maximum oxygen uptake per body weight (VO
2 max/W) in moderately obese male patients decreased significantly compared with that in mildly obese male patients (p<0.05). (3) LOAD per body weight (LOAD/W) in moderately obese patients decreased significantly as compared to mildly obese patients (p<0.01). (4) VO
2 max, HR max and VO
2 max/W at anaerobic threshold (AT point) did not change in either group. These results suggest that physical fitness would be relatively diminished in obese patients.
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