ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Walking is commonly recommended for enhancing energy expenditure (EE), a basic principle in weight management, and cardiorespiratory fitness. However, walking EE varies with characteristics of a given population, especially by sex and age. PURPOSE: The study's purpose was to measure EE of walking as influenced by physical and physiological characteristics of a sample of adults (≥ 20 yr) living in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: Walking EE and HR were measured during a submaximal multistage treadmill test. The test stages lasted for 3 min each and started at a speed of 1.11 m·s(-1) and a grade of 0%. In the second stage, the grade was maintained at 0%, but the speed was increased to 1.56 m·s(-1) and maintained at this speed but with grade raised by 2.5% at each stage until 10% at stage 6. We measured resting oxygen consumption (MET m) before the test with the participants sitting quietly. RESULTS: MET m (mL O2·kg(-1)·min(-1), mean ± SE) was lower both in women (2.85 ± 0.03) and in men (2.97 ± 0.04) by almost 19% and 15%, respectively, compared with the conventionally estimated MET (METe) of 3.5 mL O2·kg(-1)·min(-1). Walking EE for any given speed and grade had an absolute intensity, expressed as multiples of MET m or MET e, that was practically equal between sexes and age groups, but it incurred higher individual physiological demand or relative intensity for women and older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Resting EE reflected by using METe is overestimated in the adult population of Niterói. Prescription of activities to counteract the existing worldwide obesity epidemic should be ideally based on individual physiological information, especially among women and older individuals.
Subject(s)
Energy Metabolism/physiology , Exercise Test/methods , Walking/physiology , Adult , Aged , Brazil , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
This study aimed to assess typical daily dietary intake and energy expenditure in a probabilistic sample of adults in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Dietary intake was measured by 24-hour dietary recall, body mass and height were measured in the household, and energy expenditure was estimated by the Flex-heart rate method. The results showed mean energy intake of 1,570.9 (24.1) and 2,188.8 (46.1) kcal.day-1 for women and men, respectively. Energy expenditure was higher in obese women and men (1,511.5+/-19.5 and 2,222.3+/-68.8 kcal.day-1, respectively) due to their higher body mass. Measured energy balance (intake - expenditure) decreased with increasing body mass index (BMI) in both women and men and was negative (-3.2; 131 kcal.day-1) in obese men. In conclusion, energy intake among adults in Niterói falls within the recommended values, despite high prevalence of overweight and obesity in women and men. Energy intake decreased with increasing body mass, indicating possible overestimation of energy expenditure. It is important to develop better estimates of energy expenditure in this population.
Subject(s)
Energy Intake/physiology , Energy Metabolism/physiology , Nutritional Status , Adult , Aged , Body Height , Body Mass Index , Brazil , Diet Surveys , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Avaliou-se a ingestão alimentar de 24 horas de um dia típico, mediu-se a massa corporal e a estatura e estimou-se o gasto energético em uma amostra probabilística de adultos de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Os resultados mostraram que a ingestão energética média foi de 1.570,9 (24,1) e 2.188,8 (46,1) kcal.dia-1 para mulheres e homens, respectivamente. O gasto energético foi maior nos obesos do que nos indivíduos com massa corporal normal. O balanço energético medido (ingestão energética - gasto energético) diminuiu com o aumento do índice de massa corporal, sendo negativo (-3,2; 131 kcal.dia-1) nos homens obesos. Concluiu-se que a ingestão alimentar da população adulta de Niterói encontra-se dentro do recomendado, apesar da prevalência de pré-obesidade e obesidade ser alta. Ao se estratificar a ingestão energética pelo estado nutricional nota-se menor ingestão para os indivíduos com maior massa corporal, fato mais evidente nas mulheres (possível subestimativa da ingestão energética), o que pode ser explicado, em parte, pela superestimativa no cálculo do gasto energético ou pela omissão da ingestão energética por parte dos indivíduos.
This study aimed to assess typical daily dietary intake and energy expenditure in a probabilistic sample of adults in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Dietary intake was measured by 24-hour dietary recall, body mass and height were measured in the household, and energy expenditure was estimated by the Flex-heart rate method. The results showed mean energy intake of 1,570.9 (24.1) and 2,188.8 (46.1) kcal.day-1 for women and men, respectively. Energy expenditure was higher in obese women and men (1,511.5±19.5 and 2,222.3±68.8 kcal.day-1, respectively) due to their higher body mass. Measured energy balance (intake - expenditure) decreased with increasing body mass index (BMI) in both women and men and was negative (-3.2; 131 kcal.day-1) in obese men. In conclusion, energy intake among adults in Niterói falls within the recommended values, despite high prevalence of overweight and obesity in women and men. Energy intake decreased with increasing body mass, indicating possible overestimation of energy expenditure. It is important to develop better estimates of energy expenditure in this population.