Gender differences in energy expended during activities and in daily energy expenditure of elderly people

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (2) ◽  
pp. E321-E327 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Morio ◽  
B. Beaufrere ◽  
C. Montaurier ◽  
E. Verdier ◽  
P. Ritz ◽  
...  

Gender effects on energy expended during light seated activities, walking, cycling, and sleep and their consequences on daily energy expenditure (EE) were examined in 11 men and 15 women aged 66.4 +/- 7.1 yr. Two open-circuit whole body calorimeters were used for EE measurements, except for cycling, during which EE was measured separately with the use of a face mask. Lean body mass (determined using H218O dilution method), fat mass, usual physical activity level, and activity intensity (e.g., walking speed and cycling power output) were taken as covariates in the analysis of EE variations before studying gender effects. Sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) and daily EE, adjusted for differences in all covariates, were 11.2 (P = 0.005) and 8.7% (P = 0.071) lower in women than in men, respectively. No gender-related differences were found in the various physical activity EEs above SMR (e.g., gross EE-SMR) [light seated activities (P = 0.790), walking (P = 0.263), and cycling (P = 0.287)] and daily physical activity EE above SMR (P = 0.587) after adjustment for differences in all covariates. Therefore, the lower adjusted daily EE of women could be related to their lower SMR, the most reliable criterion of whole body metabolic rate.

2003 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 645-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaas R. Westerterp

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.


1999 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 945-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaas R. Westerterp

Our understanding of human energy metabolism has benefited greatly from the application of water labelled with 2H and 18O for the measurement of total body water, water turnover and total daily energy expenditure. Applications include validation of techniques for the assessment of dietary intake and physical activity, assessment of water and energy requirement and the assessment of the effect of dietary and physical activity interventions, including its use with endurance athletes competing at the highest level. Critical aspects of the application are isotope dose preparation, sample collection, sample analysis and the calculation procedure. The labelled-water method can easily be applied in normal living conditions, including exercise, and in the clinical setting. However, sample analysis requires a sophisticated laboratory with an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer and a sample preparation system. Examples of insights based on labelled-water studies are: (1) self-reported dietary intakes often underestimate energy requirements; (2) subjects have problems maintaining energy balance when daily energy expenditure exceeds 2.5 times resting energy expenditure. Devices for the assessment of physical activity validated using labelled water allow the study of activity patterns and strategies to influence the activity level of a sedentary society.


2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérôme Ribeyre ◽  
Nicole Fellmann ◽  
Jean Vernet ◽  
Michel Delaître ◽  
Alain Chamoux ◽  
...  

The objectives of the study were to determine: (1) daily energy expenditure (EE) of athletic and non-athletic adolescents of both sexes in free-living conditions; (2) day-to-day variations in daily EE during 1 week; (3) energy costs of the main activities; and (4) the effect of usual activity on EE during sleep, seated and miscellaneous activities. Fifty adolescents (four groups of eleven to fifteen boys or girls aged 16–19 years) participated in the study. Body composition was measured by the skinfold-thickness method, and VO2max and external mechanical power (EMP) by a direct method (respiratory gas exchanges) on a cycloergometer. Daily EE and partial EE in free-living conditions were computed from heart-rate (HR) recordings during seven consecutive days using individual prediction equations established from the data obtained during a 24 h period spent in whole-body calorimeters with similar activities. Fat-free mass (FFM), VO2max, EMP, daily EE and EE during sleep were significantly higher in athletic than in non-athletic subjects. After adjustment for FFM, VO2max, EMP, daily EE and EE during exercise were still higher in athletic than in non-athletic adolescents (P<0·001). However, adjusted sleeping EE was not significantly different between athletic and non-athletic adolescents. Increases in exercise EE were partly compensated for by significant reductions in EE during schoolwork and miscellaneous activities. Thus, the differences in daily EE between athletic and non-athletic subjects resulted mainly from increases in FFM and EE during exercise (duration and energy cost).


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