Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity

IntroductionSelf-selection of aerobic training intensity is an approach that allows practitioners to develop autonomy (choice of pace), improve physical fitness, and contribute to better affective responses and training adherence. However, it is still unclear whether self-selection of training inten...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carlos Eduardo Rosa Da Silva, Wilian Jesus Santana, Gustavo Almeida, Adriano Verame, Antonio Roberto Doro, Eduardo Barbosa, Leonardo Lima, Helton Magalhães Dias, Marcelo Callegari Zanetti, Aylton Figueira Junior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1533785/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1825202050468675584
author Carlos Eduardo Rosa Da Silva
Wilian Jesus Santana
Gustavo Almeida
Adriano Verame
Antonio Roberto Doro
Eduardo Barbosa
Leonardo Lima
Helton Magalhães Dias
Marcelo Callegari Zanetti
Aylton Figueira Junior
author_facet Carlos Eduardo Rosa Da Silva
Wilian Jesus Santana
Gustavo Almeida
Adriano Verame
Antonio Roberto Doro
Eduardo Barbosa
Leonardo Lima
Helton Magalhães Dias
Marcelo Callegari Zanetti
Aylton Figueira Junior
author_sort Carlos Eduardo Rosa Da Silva
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionSelf-selection of aerobic training intensity is an approach that allows practitioners to develop autonomy (choice of pace), improve physical fitness, and contribute to better affective responses and training adherence. However, it is still unclear whether self-selection of training intensity in group settings is comparable to individual training conditions. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of three aerobic training protocols on psychophysiological responses in physically inactive adult obese women.MethodsThe sample consisted of 90 women with a mean age of 48.3 ± 5.5 years and BMI of 31.2 ± 4.8 kg/m2, who participated in three treadmill aerobic training protocols: 1- Control group (IPI) with individually prescribed intensity (64 to 76% of HRmax), 2- Small group (SGS) with self-selected intensity, and 3- Individual with self-selected intensity (ISS). Heart rate (HR), total session volume (VL), affective valence was determined by feeling scale (FS), enjoyment was determined by Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), intention to repeat the exercise session (INT), and Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale (BPNFS) were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted using two-way ANOVA for HR and FS, and one-way ANOVA for VL, PACES, INT, and BPNFS with Tukey post hoc test and significance criteria (p < 0.05).ResultsThe results showed that HR and VL were similar (p > 0.05) between the protocols IPI, SGS and ISS, while FS, PACES, and INT were significantly higher in SGS and ISS than IPI protocols (p < 0.05). BPNFS also presented better results for the SGS and ISS protocols (p < 0.05).DiscussionThese findings suggest that the intensity and training volume were similar among different protocols. Affective responses were more positive perceived in SGS and ISS protocols.ConclusionWe conclude that intensity self-selection is a safe, effective, and comparable strategy to prescribed intensity at moderate levels, providing a more enjoyable experience that may contribute to greater adherence to aerobic training.
format Article
id doaj-art-35aa69721ab64368923eb1bf298efc76
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-1078
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Psychology
spelling doaj-art-35aa69721ab64368923eb1bf298efc762025-02-07T14:46:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15337851533785Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesityCarlos Eduardo Rosa Da SilvaWilian Jesus SantanaGustavo AlmeidaAdriano VerameAntonio Roberto DoroEduardo BarbosaLeonardo LimaHelton Magalhães DiasMarcelo Callegari ZanettiAylton Figueira JuniorIntroductionSelf-selection of aerobic training intensity is an approach that allows practitioners to develop autonomy (choice of pace), improve physical fitness, and contribute to better affective responses and training adherence. However, it is still unclear whether self-selection of training intensity in group settings is comparable to individual training conditions. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of three aerobic training protocols on psychophysiological responses in physically inactive adult obese women.MethodsThe sample consisted of 90 women with a mean age of 48.3 ± 5.5 years and BMI of 31.2 ± 4.8 kg/m2, who participated in three treadmill aerobic training protocols: 1- Control group (IPI) with individually prescribed intensity (64 to 76% of HRmax), 2- Small group (SGS) with self-selected intensity, and 3- Individual with self-selected intensity (ISS). Heart rate (HR), total session volume (VL), affective valence was determined by feeling scale (FS), enjoyment was determined by Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), intention to repeat the exercise session (INT), and Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale (BPNFS) were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted using two-way ANOVA for HR and FS, and one-way ANOVA for VL, PACES, INT, and BPNFS with Tukey post hoc test and significance criteria (p < 0.05).ResultsThe results showed that HR and VL were similar (p > 0.05) between the protocols IPI, SGS and ISS, while FS, PACES, and INT were significantly higher in SGS and ISS than IPI protocols (p < 0.05). BPNFS also presented better results for the SGS and ISS protocols (p < 0.05).DiscussionThese findings suggest that the intensity and training volume were similar among different protocols. Affective responses were more positive perceived in SGS and ISS protocols.ConclusionWe conclude that intensity self-selection is a safe, effective, and comparable strategy to prescribed intensity at moderate levels, providing a more enjoyable experience that may contribute to greater adherence to aerobic training.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1533785/fullpsychophysiological responsesenjoymentmotivationphysical activitysmall group training
spellingShingle Carlos Eduardo Rosa Da Silva
Wilian Jesus Santana
Gustavo Almeida
Adriano Verame
Antonio Roberto Doro
Eduardo Barbosa
Leonardo Lima
Helton Magalhães Dias
Marcelo Callegari Zanetti
Aylton Figueira Junior
Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity
Frontiers in Psychology
psychophysiological responses
enjoyment
motivation
physical activity
small group training
title Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity
title_full Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity
title_fullStr Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity
title_full_unstemmed Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity
title_short Self-selected vs. prescribed aerobic exercise intensity: impacts on pleasure in women with obesity
title_sort self selected vs prescribed aerobic exercise intensity impacts on pleasure in women with obesity
topic psychophysiological responses
enjoyment
motivation
physical activity
small group training
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1533785/full
work_keys_str_mv AT carloseduardorosadasilva selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT wilianjesussantana selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT gustavoalmeida selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT adrianoverame selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT antoniorobertodoro selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT eduardobarbosa selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT leonardolima selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT heltonmagalhaesdias selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT marcelocallegarizanetti selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity
AT ayltonfigueirajunior selfselectedvsprescribedaerobicexerciseintensityimpactsonpleasureinwomenwithobesity