Physical activity, energy expenditure and sedentary parameters in overfeeding studies - a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that compensations in physical activity, energy expenditure and sedentary parameters can occur as a result of overfeeding studies in order to maintain body weight; however, the evidence has not yet been systematically reviewed. METHODS: The current study systematically reviewed the literature on this subject to determine the common tools used in overfeeding studies and to explore whether overfeeding produces changes in physical activity, energy expenditure and sedentary parameters. Eight electronic databases were searched to identify experimental studies using keywords pertaining to overfeeding, exercise, physical activity and sedentariness. Articles included healthy adults (aged 18-64 years) participating in an overfeeding study that examined at least one parameter of sedentary, energy expenditure or physical activity. Of 123 full-text articles reviewed, 15 met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The common tools used in overfeeding studies were doubly labeled water (n = 6), room calorimeter (n = 4), accelerometer (n = 7), pedometer (n = 3), radar sensor (n = 4) and survey (n = 1). Parameters partaining to energy expenditure increased between 7 to 50% with different overfeeding duration. Physical activity parameters, such as number of steps and spontaneous activity, increased or decreased significantly in three studies, while five studies showed no significant change. Sedentary parameters were examined by only one study and its results were not significant after 3 days of overfeeding. Methodological issues existed concerning the small number of studies, disparities in sedentary and physical activity parameters and various definitions of free-living experimental conditions and physical activity limits. CONCLUSIONS: There is actually a use of many tools and a large variation of parameters for physical activity in overfeeding studies. Contradictory findings showed changes in physical activity parameters following overfeeding and limited findings support the absence of changes in sedentariness. While energy expenditure parameters are more numerous and all show an increase after an overfeeding period, further studies are required to confirm changes in physical activity and sedentary parameters.

[What patients think of patient education]. / Ce que pensent les patients de l'éducation thérapeutique.

What patients think of therapeutic education. Therapeutic education for patients has proven beneficial in the management of many chronic diseases. At the Marie-Madeleine hospital centre in Forbach, France, where a therapeutic education unit has been in place since 2006, a satisfaction survey undertaken in a group of patients with heart failure shows areas for improvement.

[Education of heart failure patients]. / L'éducation thérapeutique des patients insuffisants cardiaques.

Therapeutic patient education (TPE) has proved to be beneficial in a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, chronic kidney failure. A TPE unit has been set up in Marie-Madeleine hospital in Forbach. In order to improve the actions carried out with patients with heart failure undergoing treatment, a satisfaction survey was carried out with this group of patients.