Physical activity energy expenditure in Dutch adolescents: contribution of active transport to school, physical education, and leisure time activities

BACKGROUND: Detailed knowledge about physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) can guide the development of school interventions aimed at reducing overweight in adolescents. However, relevant components of PAEE have never been objectively quantified in this population. This study investigated the contribution of active transport to and from school, physical education (PE), and leisure time activities to total PAEE during a regular school week in adolescents. METHODS: Seventy‐three adolescents (mean age: 15.7 years) wore an individually calibrated combined heart rate‐acceleration monitor and kept an activity diary during a regular school week. Branched equation modeling was used to calculate PAEE of the specific activity categories, and their relative contribution to total PAEE was determined. RESULTS: Active transport and PE contributed 30.0% and 17.4%, respectively, to school‐related PAEE. Active transport to and from school contributed 15% to total PAEE. Youth with a high physical activity level (PAL) spent 4 hours less in sedentary behavior than subjects with a medium or low PAL (F = 77.415 (2.70), p < .001) and had higher PAEE during leisure time sports (F = 9.135 (2.70), p < .001) and work‐related activities (F = 10.583 (2.70), p < .001) than youth with medium or low PAL values. CONCLUSIONS: Active transport and PE contribute significantly to PAEE during school hours in adolescents. To achieve an increase in total PAEE in the least active group of adolescents, promising strategies might be to reduce inactive behavior, increase participation in leisure time sports, and possibly to replace inactive for active jobs.     

Daily energy intake, energy expenditure and activity patterns of selected Malaysian sportsmen

Seventeen members of the national sepaktakraw squad undergoing centralised training participated in a comprehensive study to determine their daily food intake, activity patterns and energy requirements. Food intake was recorded as a mean of 3-days weighed food intake and the nutrient contents were calculated using a local food composition table. The energy cost of standardised activities was determined by indirect calorimetry while time and motion study was used to estimate the daily energy expenditure of each subject. The mean daily energy intake was 2784±373 kcal (11.6±1.6 MJ) while the mean daily energy expenditure was 3004±298 kcal (12.6±1.2 MJ), with a negative energy balance of 220 kcal ((0.9 MJ). Intake of other nutrients were adequate when compared with the Malaysian RDA, with the exception of niacin. The results of the activity pattern study indicated that the subjects spent about 80% of the day doing light activities while 20% of the day was devoted to their training programme comprising of moderate to heavy activities. This data set represents the first of its kind in Malaysia and should provide impetus for further research in this area which would help establish dietary guidelines for Malaysian sportsmen.     

Estimated energy expenditure and physical activity patterns of adolescent distance runners

The purpose of this study was to examine the estimated total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity patterns of adolescent distance runners. Twenty-eight (20 male, 8 female) adolescent distance runners self-reported their daily physical activity with the Bouchard 3-d diary. Mean values for TEE, 57.4 +/- 11.6 and 51.0 +/- 9.8 kcal x kg(-1) x d(-1), and activity energy expenditure (AEE), 26.7 +/- 10.4 and 21.0 +/- 8.8 kcal x kg(-1) x d(-1), when expressed per kilogram body mass were not significantly different between males and females, respectively (P = 0.18). When expressed in absolute terms, TEE, 3609 +/- 927 and 2467 +/- 426 kcal/d, and AEE, 1688 +/- 746 and 977 +/- 269 kcal/d, were significantly higher in males than in females, respectively. The results document the energy expenditure and self-reported physical activity of adolescent distance runners and might be used to address recommendations for adequate dietary energy requirements in this group, which in turn is important for energy balance in the context of normal growth, health, and physical performance.     

Increased contribution of protein oxidation to energy expenditure in head-injured patients

Six patients with acute head injury (initial GCS 4.8 +/- 1.7) were studied to determine the contribution of protein oxidation to resting energy expenditure (REE). Patients were studied on the second or third day post-injury and prior to implementation of nutritional support. Variables measured included REE by indirect calorimetry (normalized to percent predicted energy expenditure calculated from the Harris-Benedict equation). 24-hr urinary nitrogen excretion, calorie, and nitrogen intake. All patients received dexamethasone (39 +/- 2 mg/day) and three received pentobarbital. Mean REE was widely variable, ranging from 43 to 128% of predicted (mean, 90 +/- 31%). Mean 24-hr urinary nitrogen excretion was 16.5 +/- 5.8 g. The contribution of protein oxidation to REE was 30 +/- 4%. The contribution of protein oxidation to REE did not parallel REE (r = -0.237, p = NS) or REE expressed as percent predicted (r = -0.258, p = NS). The contribution of protein oxidation to energy expenditure is greater in acute heat trauma than previously described soft tissue injury and sepsis. The observed excessive nitrogen catabolism and increased contribution of protein oxidation to resting energy expenditure suggest accentuated protein requirements in respect to energy needs in head-injured patients.     

Increased contribution of protein oxidation to energy expenditure in head-injured patients.

Six patients with acute head injury (initial GCS 4.8 +/? 1.7) were studied to determine the contribution of protein oxidation to resting energy expenditure (REE). Patients were studied on the second or third day post-injury and prior to implementation of nutritional support. Variables measured included REE by indirect calorimetry (normalized to percent predicted energy expenditure calculated from the Harris-Benedict equation). 24-hr urinary nitrogen excretion, calorie, and nitrogen intake. All patients received dexamethasone (39 +/? 2 mg/day) and three received pentobarbital. Mean REE was widely variable, ranging from 43 to 128% of predicted (mean, 90 +/? 31%). Mean 24-hr urinary nitrogen excretion was 16.5 +/? 5.8 g. The contribution of protein oxidation to REE was 30 +/? 4%. The contribution of protein oxidation to REE did not parallel REE (r = -0.237, p = NS) or REE expressed as percent predicted (r = -0.258, p = NS). The contribution of protein oxidation to energy expenditure is greater in acute heat trauma than previously described soft tissue injury and sepsis. The observed excessive nitrogen catabolism and increased contribution of protein oxidation to resting energy expenditure suggest accentuated protein requirements in respect to energy needs in head-injured patients.     

Resting energy expenditure, activity energy expenditure and total energy expenditure at age 91-96 years

There is a limited knowledge concerning energy requirements of the elderly, especially the oldest old (> 80 years). Energy requirements should be estimated from measurements of energy expenditure. For this purpose twenty-one free-living individuals (eight males, thirteen females) aged 91-96 years living in G?teborg, Sweden were studied. Total body water (TBW) measured by the doubly-labelled-water (DLW) technique was 29.5 (sd 5.4) kg in females and 35.6 (sd 4.3) kg in males. TBW measured using bioelectric impedance (BIA) was 31.6 (sd 6.4) kg in females and 42.0 (sd 7.4) kg in males. The mean difference between TBW measured by BIA and that measured by DLW was 3.54 (sd 3.6) kg (P = 0.0002). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured using a ventilated-hood system and averaged 5.36 (sd 0.71) MJ/d in females (n 12) and 6.09 (sd 0.91) MJ/d in males (n 8). Difference between measured RMR and predicted BMR (n 20) was 0.015 (sd 0.86) MJ/d (NS). Total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by DLW averaged 6.3 (sd 0.81) MJ/d in females and 8.1 (sd 0.73) MJ/d in males. Activity energy expenditure (TEE - RMR), thus including diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), averaged 0.95 (sd 0.95) MJ/d in females (n 12) and 2.02 (sd 1.13) MJ/d in males. Physical activity level (TEE/BMR) averaged 1.19 (sd 0. 19) in females and 1.36 (sd 0.21) (P = 0.08) in males. If DIT is assumed to be 10 % of the TEE, energy spent on physical activity will be very low in this population.     

Physical activity and human energy expenditure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This is a review on the measurement of physical activity under daily life conditions. The focus is on the doubly labelled water method and accelerometry. Doubly labelled water is a gold standard and the reference for the validation of field methods to assess physical activity. Accelerometry is the most objective and precise technique to assess activity patterns in terms of frequency, duration and intensity. Applications of the two techniques are illustrated with the limits of physical activity and energy expenditure and with activity intensity as a determinant of the physical activity level. RECENT FINDINGS: The upper limit of the physical activity index (total energy expenditure as a multiple of basal metabolic rate) of 2.5, as derived from cross-sectional data, is confirmed by training intervention studies. Exercise training, in which total energy expenditure was measured before and at the end of the training programme, showed no increase in physical activity index when training was combined with an energy restricted diet and in elderly subjects. In children, the distribution of time spent at activities with low and high intensity determines the physical activity index while in adults moderate-intensity activities are the main determinant. SUMMARY: In adults, within the normal physical activity index range, the distribution of time spent at activities with low and moderate intensity determines the physical activity level. High-intensity activity does not have much impact on daily energy expenditure. High-intensity activity is not required to increase the activity energy expenditure.     

A latent profile analysis of sedentary and physical activity patterns

Aim

The aim of the current study was to examine the physical activity and sedentary behavioral patterns of children and adolescents using the model-based latent profile analysis (LPA) approach.

Subject and methods

A sample of 847 school children aged 10 to 16?years from 28 Singapore schools took part in the study. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using a 7-day physical activity recall questionnaire.

Results

The findings of the present study showed that there were at least five groups of students with unique sedentary and physical activity patterns. A few clusters were gender-specific. For example, groups 1 and 4 were female-dominated clusters and group 3 was male-dominated. The younger children in the primary school had different sedentary and physical activity behaviors.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the use of LPA to group individuals into homogenous groupings in order to help researchers make informed decisions about the number of underlying groupings. This can have benefits for targeting specific groups in interventions.     

中国慢性病前瞻性研究: 10 个项目地区成人体力活动和休闲静坐时间特征差异的分析

目的 描述中国慢性病前瞻性研究(CKB)10个项目点健康人群体力活动和静坐行为特征的地区差异。方法 剔除自报患有冠心病、卒中和肿瘤等慢性疾病的个体后, 研究分析10个项目地区中486 514名30~79岁队列成员体力活动和每周休闲静坐时间的基线信息, 重点描述地区差异。结果 男性总体力活动水平(22.9 MET-h/d)高于女性(20.6 MET-h/d), 休闲静坐时间(3.1 h/d)多于女性(2.9 h/d)。浙江项目点个体每天总体力活动水平最高(男31.3 MET-h/d, 女 30.2 MET-h/d)且静坐时间最少(男2.0 h/d, 女 1.6 h/d)。工作相关活动所占比例, 男性以浙江(86.5%)和河南(85.2%)项目点最高, 海口(69.4%)最低;女性以浙江(74.8%)最高, 河南(40.9%)最低。甘肃项目点(男17.8%, 女18.1%)交通活动所占比例明显高于其他地区。家务活动所占比例, 男性以湖南项目点(18.0%)最高, 女性以河南(54.0%)和湖南(39.1%)最高。城市项目点的休闲相关活动所占比例高于农村, 其中柳州(男9.5%, 女10.4%)最高。甘肃(男36.8%, 女29.8%)、四川(男34.1%, 女33.8%)和浙江(男20.0%, 女19.2%)3个农村项目点的高强度活动所占比例明显高于其他项目点。结论 CKB 10个项目地区的研究人群在总体力活动水平、活动类型、活动强度和休闲静坐时间等特征上存在明显的地区差异。     

Impacts of vigorous and non-vigorous activity on daily energy expenditure

Activity intensity is a potential determinant of activity-induced energy expenditure. Tri-axial accelerometery is the most objective measurement technique for the assessment of activity intensity, in combination with doubly-labelled water for the measurement of energy expenditure under free-living conditions. Data on the effects of subject characteristics, including body size and age, and exercise training on the relationship between activity intensity and daily energy expenditure are reviewed. Average daily metabolic rate and non-basal energy expenditure are positively related to body size. The duration and intensity of physical activities do not need to be equivalent to the energy spent on activity. Obese subjects spend more energy on physical activity but can perform fewer activities, especially high-intensity (weight-bearing) activities, because of their higher body weight. Physical activity generally declines gradually from about 60 years of age onwards. Most subjects > 80 years have an activity level well below the level defined for sedentary middle-aged adults. Spending relatively more time on low-intensity activities has a negative effect on the mean physical activity level. To obtain a higher physical activity level does not necessarily imply high-intensity activities. In an average subject 25% of the activity-induced energy expenditure may be attributed to high-intensity activities. Exercise training, as a form of high-intensity activity, affects the physical activity level more in younger subjects than in elderly subjects.     

Twenty-four-hour analysis of elevated energy expenditure after physical activity in a metabolic chamber: models of daily total energy expenditure

BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine proposed that 15% of energy expenditure (EE) as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption should be added to additional physical activity energy expenditure (DeltaPAEE) to estimate total EE. However, the magnitude of elevated post-physical activity energy expenditure (EPEE) under normal daily living conditions has not been examined. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of EPEE on 24-h EE by modeling standard living conditions in a metabolic chamber. DESIGN: Eleven Japanese men completed three 24-h metabolic chamber measurements: a control day (C-day), a day with high-frequency moderate-intensity physical activity (M-day), and a day with high-frequency vigorous-intensity physical activity (V-day). RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD) 24-h EE for the C-day, the M-day, and the V-day was 2228 +/- 143 kcal, 2816 +/- 197 kcal, and 2813 +/- 163 kcal, respectively. No significant difference was observed in 24-h EE between an M-day and a V-day. Mean EPEEs on the M-day and the V-day did not significantly contribute to increasing 24-h EE. Relative EPEEs to DeltaPAEEs were 6.2 +/- 13.9% (M-day) and 5.1 +/- 9.2% (V-day). However, EPEE/24-h EE was negatively correlated with maximal oxygen uptake on the V-day (r = -0.68, P = 0.02), although no significant correlation between these variables was observed on the M-day (r = -0.41, P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EPEE has a small effect on 24-h EE in the course of normal daily activities, findings that do not support the proposition by the Institute of Medicine for estimating TEE. However, persons with low physical fitness levels could enhance EE as EPEE by increasing vigorous-intensity daily physical activity.     

An investigation of patterns of children's sedentary and vigorous physical activity throughout the week

Background  

Participation in higher intensity activity (i.e. vigorous physical activity [VPA]) appears more consistently associated with lower adiposity, unfortunately little is known about the nature and patterns of VPA participation in children.     

Daily energy expenditure,activity patterns,and energy costs of the various activities in French 12-16-y-old adolescents in free living conditions

BACKGROUND: Changes in lifestyle and increases in sedentary activities during recent decades have been shown to contribute to the prevalence of overweight in adolescents. OBJECTIVES: To determine the inter-individual variability and the day-to-day variations in daily energy expenditure (DEE) and activity pattern, and the energy costs and EE of the various activities of adolescents in free-living conditions. DESIGN: Sixty adolescents (four groups of 14-16 boys or girls aged 12-16 y) participated in this cross-sectional study during spring or autumn. Activity patterns and EE were determined during five consecutive days, using both a diary and the heart rate recording method validated by whole-body calorimetry and laboratory tests. RESULTS: Mean DEE increased significantly with age in boys, but not in girls. However, the physical activity level did not vary significantly with sex and age. Mean DEE was significantly higher in spring than in autumn in the 12.6-y-old subjects. It was also 21% higher during the free days than during the schooldays in the active subjects, but 7% lower in the sedentary subjects. The energy cost of 22 activities was determined. Time and energy devoted to moderate and sport activities exhibited great inter-individual variability. They were lower in girls than in boys and decreased with age. The increase in EE resulting from moderate and sport activities instead of sedentary activities ranged from 0.2 to 2.7 MJ/day over the week. CONCLUSION: The great variability in DEE of adolescents resulted mainly from differences in the nature, duration and intensity of physical activities during the free days.