The Adult OMNI-Walk/Run RPE Scale (OMNI RPE) has not been validated in overweight and obese adults. In addition, the preferred method that overweight and obese individuals use to self-regulate exercise intensity is unknown. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine concurrent and construct validity of the OMNI RPE in overweight and obese adults. The secondary purpose of the present study was to examine the preferred method of self-regulating exercise intensity (SRE) in this same cohort. METHODS: Sixty (males, n = 22, age = 37.18 ± 9.70 yrs; females, n = 38, age = 34.45 ± 7.92 yrs) sedentary to physically active overweight or obese adults participated in this study. A single observation, cross-sectional research design was employed where subjects performed a progressively incremented submaximal graded treadmill exercise test to 85% of age predicted maximal heart rate (APMHR) followed by a questionnaire-based interview. HR and Oxygen consumption (VO2) were regressed against OMNI RPE responses from every second minute of exercise to examine concurrent validity. OMNI RPE responses were regressed against Borg RPE to establish construct validity. Subjects completed interview-led questionnaires post-exercise to assess physical activity history and preferred method of SRE. RESULTS: A strong relation between OMNI RPE and HR (r = 0.866; p < 0.001) was observed for the total sample. A moderate-strong relation between OMNI RPE and VO2 (r = 0.731; p < 0.001) was also observed. OMNI RPE displayed a very strong relation with Borg RPE (r = 0.963; p < 0.001). In the past, more subjects (88.2%) reported using a perceptual method to SRE than the 11.8% who reported using a HR method (p < 0.001). There was no difference in subject’s preference in the future. CONCLUSION: Concurrent and construct validity of OMNI RPE were established in overweight and obese adults. Therefore, OMNI RPE may be used in treadmill exercise testing in overweight and obese adults. In addition, more subjects previously used perceptual methods to SRE. However, there was no difference in preference for SRE in the future. The reason behind this finding is uncertain and warrants further investigation
