scholarly journals Body composition and physical activity in New Zealand Maori, Pacific and European children aged 5–14 years

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 1133-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine C. Rush ◽  
Lindsay D. Plank ◽  
Peter S. W. Davies ◽  
Patsy Watson ◽  
Clare R. Wall

Body fatness and the components of energy expenditure in children aged 5–14 years were investigated. In a group of seventy-nine healthy children (thirty-nine female, forty male), mean age 10·0 (sd 2·8) years, comprising twenty-seven Maori, twenty-six Pacific Island and twenty-six European, total energy expenditure (TEE) was determined over 10 d using the doubly-labelled water method. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured by indirect calorimetry and physical activity level (PAL) was calculated as TEE:RMR. Fat-free mass (FFM), and hence fat mass, was derived from the 18O-dilution space using appropriate values for FFM hydration in children. Qualitative information on physical activity patterns was obtained by questionnaire. Maori and Pacific children had a higher BMI than European children (P<0·003), but % body fat was similar for the three ethnic groups. The % body fat increased with age for girls (r 0·42, P=0·008), but not for boys. Ethnicity was not a significant predictor of RMR adjusted for FFM and fat mass. TEE and PAL, adjusted for body weight and age, were higher in Maori than European children (P<0·02), with Pacific children having intermediate values. PAL was inversely correlated with % body fat in boys (r −0·43, P=0·006), but was not significantly associated in girls. The % body fat was not correlated with reported time spent inactive or outdoors. Ethnic-related differences in total and activity-related energy expenditure that might account for higher obesity rates in Maori and Pacific children were not seen. Low levels of physical activity were associated with increased body fat in boys but not in girls.

2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katy M. Horner ◽  
Nuala M. Byrne ◽  
Geoffrey J. Cleghorn ◽  
Neil A. King

Although a number of studies have examined the role of gastric emptying (GE) in obesity, the influences of habitual physical activity level, body composition and energy expenditure (EE) on GE have received very little consideration. In the present study, we compared GE in active and inactive males, and characterised relationships with body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass) and EE. A total of forty-four males (activen22, inactiven22; BMI 21–36 kg/m2; percentage of fat mass 9–42 %) were studied, with GE of a standardised (1676 kJ) pancake meal being assessed by the [13C]octanoic acid breath test, body composition by air displacement plethysmography, RMR by indirect calorimetry, and activity EE (AEE) by accelerometry. The results showed that GE was faster in active compared with inactive males (mean half-time (t1/2): active 157 (sd18) and inactive 179 (sd21) min,P< 0·001). When data from both groups were pooled, GEt1/2was associated with percentage of fat mass (r0·39,P< 0·01) and AEE (r− 0·46,P< 0·01). After controlling for habitual physical activity status, the association between AEE and GE remained, but not that for percentage of fat mass and GE. BMI and RMR were not associated with GE. In summary, faster GE is considered to be a marker of a habitually active lifestyle in males, and is associated with a higher AEE level and a lower percentage of fat mass. The possibility that GE contributes to a gross physiological regulation (or dysregulation) of food intake with physical activity level deserves further investigation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Bonomi ◽  
G. Plasqui ◽  
A. H. C. Goris ◽  
K. R. Westerterp

Accelerometers are often used to quantify the acceleration of the body in arbitrary units (counts) to measure physical activity (PA) and to estimate energy expenditure. The present study investigated whether the identification of types of PA with one accelerometer could improve the estimation of energy expenditure compared with activity counts. Total energy expenditure (TEE) of 15 subjects was measured with the use of double-labeled water. The physical activity level (PAL) was derived by dividing TEE by sleeping metabolic rate. Simultaneously, PA was measured with one accelerometer. Accelerometer output was processed to calculate activity counts per day (ACD) and to determine the daily duration of six types of common activities identified with a classification tree model. A daily metabolic value (METD) was calculated as mean of the MET compendium value of each activity type weighed by the daily duration. TEE was predicted by ACD and body weight and by ACD and fat-free mass, with a standard error of estimate (SEE) of 1.47 MJ/day, and 1.2 MJ/day, respectively. The replacement in these models of ACD with METD increased the explained variation in TEE by 9%, decreasing SEE by 0.14 MJ/day and 0.18 MJ/day, respectively. The correlation between PAL and METD ( R2 = 51%) was higher than that between PAL and ACD ( R2 = 46%). We conclude that identification of activity types combined with MET intensity values improves the assessment of energy expenditure compared with activity counts. Future studies could develop models to objectively assess activity type and intensity to further increase accuracy of the energy expenditure estimation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 111 (10) ◽  
pp. 1830-1840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Henriksson ◽  
Elisabet Forsum ◽  
Marie Löf

Accurate and easy-to-use methods to assess free-living energy expenditure in response to physical activity in young children are scarce. In the present study, we evaluated the capacity of (1) 4 d recordings obtained using the Actiheart (mean heart rate (mHR) and mean activity counts (mAC)) to provide assessments of total energy expenditure (TEE) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) and (2) a 7 d activity diary to provide assessments of physical activity levels (PAL) using three sets of metabolic equivalent (MET) values (PALTorun, PALAdolphand PALAinsworth) in forty-four and thirty-one healthy Swedish children aged 1·5 and 3 years, respectively. Reference TEE, PALrefand AEE were measured using criterion methods, i.e. the doubly labelled water method and indirect calorimetry. At 1·5 years of age, mHR explained 8 % (P= 0·006) of the variation in TEE above that explained by fat mass and fat-free mass. At 3 years of age, mHR and mAC explained 8 (P= 0·004) and 6 (P= 0·03) % of the variation in TEE and AEE, respectively, above that explained by fat mass and fat-free mass. At 1·5 and 3 years of age, average PALAinsworthvalues were 1·44 and 1·59, respectively, and not significantly different from PALrefvalues (1·39 and 1·61, respectively). By contrast, average PALTorun(1·5 and 3 years) and PALAdolph(3 years) values were lower (P< 0·05) than the corresponding PALrefvalues. In conclusion, at both ages, Actiheart recordings explained a small but significant fraction of free-living energy expenditure above that explained by body composition variables, and our activity diary produced mean PAL values in agreement with reference values when using MET values published by Ainsworth.


Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Fields ◽  
Justin Merrigan ◽  
Jason White ◽  
Margaret Jones

The purpose of this study was to assess the body composition of male and female basketball athletes (n = 323) across season, year, and sport-position using air displacement plethysmography. An independent sample t-test assessed sport-position differences. An analysis of variance was used to assess within-subjects across season (pre-season, in-season, and off-season), and academic year (freshman, sophomore, and junior). For both men and women basketball (MBB, WBB) athletes, guards had the lowest body fat, fat mass, fat free mass, and body mass. No seasonal differences were observed in MBB, but following in-season play for WBB, a reduction of (p = 0.03) in fat free mass (FFM) was observed. Across years, MBB showed an increase in FFM from freshman to sophomore year, yet remained unchanged through junior year. For WBB across years, no differences occurred for body mass (BM), body fat (BF%), and fat mass (FM), yet FFM increased from sophomore to junior year (p = 0.009). Sport-position differences exist in MBB and WBB: Guards were found to be smaller and leaner than forwards. Due to the importance of body composition (BC) on athletic performance, along with seasonal and longitudinal shifts in BC, strength and conditioning practitioners should periodically assess athletes BC to ensure preservation of FFM. Training and nutrition programming can then be adjusted in response to changes in BC.


2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 643-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margriet S. Westerterp-Plantenga ◽  
Annelies H. C. Goris ◽  
Erwin P. Meijer ◽  
Klaas R. Westerterp

Habitual meal frequency was assessed as a possible function of components of energy expenditure (EE) in human subjects. Fifty-six subjects participated (four categories differing in body composition): ten older women (fat-free mass (FFM) 42·0 (sd 6·3) kg, aged 59 (sd 2) years, BMI 27·5 (sd 6·9) kg/m2), fifteen younger women (FFM 45·5 (sd 5·2) kg, aged 34 (sd 10) years, BMI 21·9 (sd 2·3) kg/m2), twelve older men (FFM 56·8 (sd 5·9) kg, aged 62 (sd 4) years, BMI 25·7 (sd 3·3) kg/m2) and nineteen younger men (FFM 63·9 (sd 7·5) kg, aged 23·1 (sd 3·9) years, BMI 22·9 (sd 1·8) kg/m2). Measurements consisted of habitual meal frequency by validated food-intake diaries, physical activity by tri-axial accelerometers and resting EE by a ventilated hood system. Habitual meal frequency was expressed as a function of resting EE (including resting EE as a function of FFM), and of activity-induced EE, using regression analysis. FFM differed according to gender and age categories (P < 0·01). Physical activity level was higher in the younger men than in the other categories (P < 0·05). No relationship of meal frequency with the variables assessed was observed in subjects with a low FFM (the women). In the subjects with a medium FFM (the older men), meal frequency was positively related to resting EE (r2 0·4, P < 0·05), but not to the residuals of resting EE as a function of FFM, and inversely related to activity-induced EE (r2 0·3, P < 0·05). Resting EE explained 40% of the variation in meal frequency; adding activity-induced EE increased this to 60%. In the subjects with a high FFM (the younger men), meal frequency was inversely related to resting EE (r2 0·8, P < 0·0001) and to the residuals of resting EE as a function of FFM (P = 0·03), and positively related to activity-induced EE (r2 0·6, P < 0·0001). Resting EE explained 85% of the variation in meal frequency; adding activity-induced EE increased this to 89%. Habitual meal frequency was a function of components of EE, namely resting EE and activity-induced EE, only in subjects with a medium to high FFM (men). FFM-related differences in these relationships suggest a role of physical activity.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
Michael I. Goran ◽  
Mary Kaskoun ◽  
Rachel Johnson ◽  
Charlene Martinez ◽  
Benson Kelly ◽  
...  

Objective. Epidemiologic studies suggest that Native Americans, including the Mohawk people, have a high prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk. However, current information on alterations in related variables such as energy metabolism and body composition in Native Americans is almost exclusively limited to already obese Pima adults living in the Southwest. The aim of this study was to characterize energy metabolism and body composition in young Mohawk children (17 girls, 11 boys; aged 4 to 7 years) as compared to Caucasian children (36 girls, 34 boys; aged 4 to 7 years). Total energy expenditure was measured by doubly labeled water, postprandial resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry, and activity energy expenditure was derived from the difference between total and resting energy expenditure. Fat and fat free mass were estimated from bioelectrical resistance, and body fat distribution was estimated from skinfolds and circumferences. Results. There were no significant effects of ethnic background or sex on body weight, height, or body mass index. Fat free mass was significantly higher in boys and fat mass was significantly higher in girls, with no effect of ethnic background. Chest skinfold thickness, the ratio of trunk skinfolds:extremity skinfolds, and the waist:hip ratio were significantly higher in Mohawk children by 2.5 mm, 0.09 units, and 0.03 units, respectively, independent of sex and fat mass. Total energy expenditure was significantly higher in Mohawk children compared to Caucasian (100 kcal/day in girls, 150 kcal/day in boys), independent of fat free mass and sex, due to a significantly higher physical activity-related energy expenditure. Conclusion. These data suggest that: 1) body fat is more centrally distributed in Mohawk relative to Caucasian children, and this effect is independent of sex and body fat content; 2) Mohawk children have a greater total energy expenditure than Caucasian children, independent of fat free mass, due to greater physical activity-related energy expenditure.


2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaas R. Westerterp ◽  
Guy Plasqui ◽  
Annelies H. C. Goris

Although water is an important nutrient, there are no recommended intake values. Here, water intake, energy intake, physical activity and water loss was measured over 1 week in summer and in winter. Subjects were healthy volunteers, forty-two women and ten men, mean age of 29 (sd 7) years and mean BMI 21·8 (sd 2·2) kg/m2. Water intake was measured with a 7 d food and water record. Physical activity level (PAL) was observed as the ratio of total energy expenditure, as measured with doubly labelled water, to resting energy expenditure as measured in a respiration chamber. Water loss was measured with the deuterium elimination method. Water loss was highly reproducible and ranged from 0·20 to 0·35 l/MJ, independent of season and activity level, with higher values in women. Water loss was related to water and energy intake in summer (r 0·96, P<0·0001 and r 0·68, P<0·001, respectively) as well as in winter (r 0·98, P<0·0001 and r 0·63, P<0·01, respectively). Water loss was, for men, higher in subjects with a higher physical activity in summer (r 0·94, P<0·0001) and in winter (r 0·70, P<0·05). Normalizing water loss for differences in energy expenditure by expressing water loss in litres per MJ resulted in the same value for men in summer and winter. For women, physical activity-adjusted values of water loss were higher, especially in summer. In men, water turnover was determined by energy intake and physical activity, while seasonal effects appeared through energy expenditure. Women showed a higher water turnover that was unrelated to physical activity.


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Yeh ◽  
J. F. Aloia ◽  
M. Chen ◽  
S. Sprintz

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of growth hormone administration and treadmill exercise on bone mass, body fat mass, and fat-free mass. Forty female rats aged 14 mo were divided into control, ovine growth hormone administration (0.5 mg.kg-1.day-1; GH), treadmill exercise (17 m/min, 60 min/day; EX), and EX + GH groups. Noninvasive total body electrical conductivity and dual X-ray absorptiometry techniques were used to assess the body fat content, fat-free mass, and tibial and L4 vertebral bone mineral content of each experimental animal at weeks 0, 9, and 16. The age-related increase in body fat mass was suppressed in the GH group, and the fat-free mass and L4 bone mass were higher in the GH group than in the control group. Conversely, in the EX group there was no gain in body fat mass and no significant change in fat-free mass or vertebral bone mass. The tibial bone mass increased in both the GH and EX groups; however, the time response to the two interventions appeared to differ. In the EX + GH group there was no further enhancement of the anabolic effect on the tibial bone mass. The effect of growth hormone administration on body fat content and bone mass is distinct from that of treadmill exercise.


Author(s):  
Eliška Štefanová ◽  
Peter Bakalár ◽  
Tibor Baška

Eating disorders (EDs) represent a disparate group of mental health problems that significantly impair physical health or psychosocial functioning. The aim of this study was to present some evidence about the prevalence of eating-disordered behavior (EDB) in adolescents, and explore its associations with body image (BI), body composition (BC) and physical activity (PA) in this age group. Data from 780 adolescents participating in a health behavior in school-aged children (HBSC) study conducted in Slovakia in 2018 were used (mean age 13.5 ± 1.3; 56% boys). Differences in mean values of numerical indicators were evaluated using the independent samples t-test. Differences between nominal variables were assessed by the chi-square test. Pearson correlation was used to describe the associations between all the selected variables. EDB was positively screened in 26.7% (208/780) of adolescents, with a higher prevalence in girls (128/344, 37.2%) than in boys (80/436, 18.3%). Significantly higher means of BI, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BFP), body fat mass index (BFMI), fat free mass index (FFMI), and SCOFF questionnaire score (SCOFF QS) were found in those positively screened for EDB. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive associations between EDB and BI, BW, BMI, BFM, BFP and BFMI. The prevalence of EDB is high in Slovak adolescents. Positive associations between EDB, BI, BMI and fat-related body composition parameters support the idea of a more integrated approach in EDs and obesity prevention and treatment. At the same time, gender differences suggest the need for considering gender-specific strategies aimed at girls and boys separately.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaas R. Westerterp ◽  
Jeroen H. H. L. M. Donkers ◽  
Elisabeth W. H. M. Fredrix ◽  
Piet oekhoudt

In adults, body mass (BM) and its components fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) are normally regulated at a constant level. Changes in FM and FFM are dependent on energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE). The body defends itself against an imbalance between EI and EE by adjusting, within limits, the one to the other. When, at a given EI or EE, energy balance cannot be reached, FM and FFM will change, eventually resulting in an energy balance at a new value. A model is described which simulates changes in FM and FFM using EI and physical activity (PA) as input variables. EI can be set at a chosen value or calculated from dietary intake with a database on the net energy of foods. PA can be set at a chosen multiple of basal metabolic rate (BMR) or calculated from the activity budget with a database on the energy cost of activities in multiples of BMR. BMR is calculated from FFM and FM and, if necessary, FFM is calculated from BM, height, sex and age, using empirical equations. The model uses existing knowledge on the adaptation of energy expenditure (EE) to an imbalance between EI and EE, and to resulting changes in FM and FFM. Mobilization and storage of energy as FM and FFM are functions of the relative size of the deficit (EI/EE) and of the body composition. The model was validated with three recent studies measuring EE at a fixed EI during an interval with energy restriction, overfeeding and exercise training respectively. Discrepancies between observed and simulated changes in energy stores were within the measurement precision of EI, EE and body composition. Thus the consequences of a change in dietary intake or a change in physical activity on body weight and body composition can be simulated.


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