Do overweight and obese individuals select a "moderate intensity" workload when asked to do so?

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine if overweight/obese individuals (age 26-50 y) would self-select moderate exercise intensity when asked to do so and (2) to determine how this self-selected workload compared to exercising at a workload (60% peak aerobic capacity) that is known to provide cardioprotective health benefits. Oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and energy expenditure were measured in 33 men/women (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m(2)) who completed two 30 min walking bouts: (1) self-selected walking pace on an indoor track and (2) prescribed exercise pace (60% VO(2) peak) on a treadmill. The data revealed that (1) the prescribed intensity was 6% higher than the self-selected pace and elicited a higher energy expenditure (P < 0.