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. 2019 Feb:260:131-136.
doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2018.11.008. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Dyspnea on exertion provokes unpleasantness and negative emotions in women with obesity

Rubria Marines-Price  1 , Vipa Bernhardt  2 , Dharini M Bhammar  3 , Tony G Babb  4
Affiliations

Dyspnea on exertion provokes unpleasantness and negative emotions in women with obesity

Rubria Marines-Price et al. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: While dyspnea on exertion (DOE) is a common complaint in otherwise healthy obese women, less is known about feelings of unpleasantness and/or negative emotions provoked by DOE. We examined whether ratings of perceived breathlessness (RPB) during exercise were associated with ratings of unpleasantness and negative emotions (depression, anxiety, frustration, anger, and fear) in obese women.

Methods: Seventy-four women (34 ± 7 yrs, 36 ± 4 kg/m2, 46 ± 5% body fat) performed 6 min of constant-load cycling (60 W); RPB (0-10 scale), and unpleasantness and negative emotions (visual analog scales, 10 cm) were assessed at the end.

Results: RPB were significantly correlated with unpleasantness and negative emotions (p < 0.05). The strongest correlations were between RPB and unpleasantness (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), and RPB and anxiety (r = 0.50, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: DOE can significantly provoke unpleasantness and negative emotions during exercise in obese women. This may affect their willingness to engage in regular physical activity.

Keywords: Affective dimension; Exertional breathlessness; Obesity; Physical activity; Respiratory symptoms.

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Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Box plots showing ratings of perceived breathlessness (Panel A) and unpleasantness from a visual analog scale (VAS- Panel B) in +DOE, –DOE, and RPB=3 groups from the 6 min constant load cycling test at 60 Watts. O Indicates outlier data points. ◊ Indicates mean. * Unpleasantness was significantly higher in +DOE. n=74
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Relationships between rating of perceived breathlessness (RPB) during exercise and affective dimensions of breathlessness including unpleasantness and negative emotions (n=74).* p < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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