Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) have previously been associated with acute exercise compensation. This study examined adaptations in the RPE and RER with long-term exercise training in individuals who did (noncompensators) and did not (compensators) lose the expected amount of weight. Participants (n = 110, 71.8% women, means ± SD; age 49 ± 12 yr) completed 24 wk of supervised exercise training at 65-85% V̇o2peak to achieve a prescribed dose of 8 kcal·kg body wt-1·wk-1 (8 KKW) or 20 KKW. Participants were categorized as noncompensators (n = 55) or compensators (n = 55) based on the percent of expected weight loss (%EWL) achieved. Changes in RPE and RER during exercise over time (baseline, week 12, week 24) were compared by weight compensation category. Individual %EWL in relation to RPE, RER, and training intensity (%V̇o2peak) was evaluated over the same time period. RPE and RER for a given workload decreased from baseline to week 12 and stabilized through week 24, regardless of weight compensation (time P < 0.0001). Noncompensators had a higher RPE relative to heart rate, which was partly explained by higher %V̇o2peak. RPE and %V̇o2peak both positively predicted %EWL, independent of age, sex, and exercise dose. Training intensity and RPE were positively associated with weight loss on the individual level, warranting further investigation into self-selection in exercise-based programs. Understanding individual heterogeneity in training intensity and behavioral responses may improve future weight management efforts that involve exercise.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In sedentary individuals with overweight and obesity, achievement of expected weight loss from long-term exercise training was associated with individual adaptations in perceived exertion. Contrary to our hypothesis, those with higher relative perceived exertion achieved a larger proportion of their expected weight loss, which was partly explained by a higher self-selected exercise training intensity.
Keywords: exercise intensity; perceived exertion; respiratory exchange ratio; weight compensation; weight loss.