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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319697
Title: Exploring metrics to express energy expenditure of physical activity in youth

Author
item MCMURRAY, ROBERT - University Of North Carolina
item BUTTE, NANCY - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item CROUTER, SCOTT - University Of Tennessee
item TROST, STEWART - Queensland University Of Technology
item PFEIFFER, KARIN - Michigan State University
item BASSETT, DAVID - University Of Tennessee
item PUYAU, MAURICE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item BERRIGAN, DAVID - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item WATSON, KATHLEEN - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item FULTON, JANET - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/26/2015
Publication Date: 6/23/2015
Citation: Mcmurray, R.G., Butte, N.F., Crouter, S.E., Trost, S.G., Pfeiffer, K.A., Bassett, D.R., Puyau, M.R., Berrigan, D., Watson, K.B., Fulton, J.E. 2015. Exploring metrics to express energy expenditure of physical activity in youth. PLoS One. 10(6):e130869.

Interpretive Summary: There is not a consensus amongest researchers on how to normalize rates of energy expenditure in youth across for a wide range of ages and body sizes. This study examined several common metrics for expressing energy expenditure to determine whether one metric can be used for all healthy children. A secondary analysis of oxygen uptake data was performed on data from 947 children ages 5 to 18 years engaged in 14 different activities. No metric completely eliminated the influence of age, physical characteristics, and sex on rates of energy expenditure. YOUTH-MET (metabolic equivalents in children)was better for expressing energy expenditure for sedentary and light activities, whereas allometric scaling was better for moderate and vigorous intensity activities. YOUTH-MET may be the more readily accepted for application such as the Compendium of Physical Activities for Youth. YOUTH-MET may be used for the estimation of the energy cost of various physical activities in children.

Technical Abstract: Several approaches have been used to express energy expenditure in youth, but no consensus exists as to which best normalizes data for the wide range of ages and body sizes across a range of physical activities. This study examined several common metrics for expressing energy expenditure to determine whether one metric can be used for all healthy children. Such a metric could improve our ability to further advance the Compendium of Physical Activities for Youth. A secondary analysis of oxygen uptake (VO2) data obtained from five sites was completed, that included 947 children ages 5 to 18 years, who engaged in 14 different activities. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was computed based on Schofield Equations [Hum Nutr Clin Nut. 39(Suppl 1), 1985]. Absolute oxygen uptake (ml.min-1), oxygen uptake per kilogram body mass (VO2 in ml.kg-1.min-1), net oxygen uptake (VO2 - resting metabolic rate), allometric scaled oxygen uptake (VO2 in ml.kg-0.75.min-1) and YOUTH-MET (VO2[resting VO2] -1) were calculated. These metrics were regressed with age, sex, height, and body mass.Net and allometric-scaled VO2, and YOUTH-MET were least associated with age, sex and physical characteristics. For moderate-to-vigorous intensity activities, allometric scaling was least related to age and sex. For sedentary and low-intensity activities, YOUTH-MET was least related to age and sex. No energy expenditure metric completely eliminated the influence of age, physical characteristics, and sex. The Adult MET consistently overestimated EE. YOUTH-MET was better for expressing energy expenditure for sedentary and light activities, whereas allometric scaling was better for moderate and vigorous intensity activities. From a practical perspective, The YOUTH-MET may be the more feasible metric for improving of the Compendium of Physical Activities for Youth.