Validation of the Accuracy of Heart Rate Monitors at Resting and Exercise at Maximal Fat Oxidation Rate in Overweight and Obese Young Adults

Overweight and obesity are defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat that affects health. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, there were 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older who were overweight, of whom 890 million were obese. In other words, 43% of adults aged 18 years and older were overweight, and 16% of them were obese.

Overweight and obesity are key risk factors for various chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and even some types of cancer. There is evidence that mortality from cardiovascular disease, and the incidence of cancer and diabetes, varies according to the amount of physical activity. In the context of high levels of sedentary time, higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity are recommended. There are various ways to treat overweight and obesity, the main ones usually being lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet and regular physical activity, as well as following pharmacological treatments. In this project, the focus will be on the fat metabolism generated during moderate physical activity.

There are physical activity interventions aimed at increasing fat metabolism that may potentially reduce the symptoms of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. For this purpose, it is important to understand the factors that increase or decrease fat oxidation. Factors such as exercise intensity and duration are important to understand when determining maximum fat oxidation (FatMax).

The aim is to develop comprehensive research that will generate knowledge and evidence on health issues with social impact through the evaluation of commercial technologies and innovative actions that promote the prevention, treatment, and resolution of national health problems such as obesity.