Comparison of MFO and FATmax levels during two types of aerobic exercise in non-athlete girls

Introduction: The present study aims to compare Fat oxidation and MFO levels and the intensity during which the FATmax occurs during two types of aerobic exercises (i.e., running on a treadmill and pedaling on a static bike). Therefore, 15 non-athlete female students with average age of 24.28 ± 1.33 years, height of 162.17 ± 3.15 centimeters, weight of 54.59 ± 4.41 , BMI of 20.94 ± 1.78 and Fat percent of 24.13 ± 3.98, performed the incremental activity on static bike and treadmill. Respiratory gas exchange and heart rate was recorded and levels of fat oxidation were measured using stoicheiometry equations. We used variance analysis test with repetitive measurements, t-test and Pearson correlation test to analyze the data. Results of the current study showed that maximal oxidation (0.20 ± 0.03 g/min vs. 0.14 ± 0.02 g/min) and maximum consumed oxygen (31.24 ± 1.95 ml/kg/min vs. 27.27 ± 1.52 ml/kg/min) was significantly higher during running on treadmill compared to pedaling on a static bike, respectively (P?0.05). However the level of FATmax did not show any significant difference during two types of physical activity (VO2max of 42.43 ± 1.18 on treadmill vs. VO2max of 47.47 ± 1.04 on the static bike). Results of this study suggest that there is a significant difference between two types of exercise in terms of fat oxidation rate during relative intensities. Also it should be mentioned that fat oxidation during activities in which there are involved more muscular mass, is higher.