Energy cost of activities in preschool-aged children

Authors: PUYAU, MAURICE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); ADOLPH, ANNE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); LIU, YAN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); WILSON, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); ZAKERI, ISSA - Drexel University; BUTTE, NANCY - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2016
Publication Date: 6/1/2016
Citation: Puyau, M.R., Adolph, A.L., Liu, Y., Wilson, T.A., Zakeri, I.F., Butte, N.F. 2016. Energy cost of activities in preschool-aged children. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 13(6 Suppl 1):S11-S16.

Interpretive Summary: There is a paucity of data on the energy costs of physical activities in preschool-aged children. In this study, the energy cost of 13 common activities was measured in 119 healthy children, ages 3 to 5 years. Oxygen consumption, energy expenditure and child-specific metabolic equivalents (METs) measured in room calorimeter. Energy costs for sleeping, sedentary, low-, moderate- to high-activities were determined. These child METs for 13 structured activities in preschool-aged children will be useful to expand the Youth Compendium of Physical Activity.

Technical Abstract: The absolute energy cost of activities in children increase with age due to greater muscle mass and physical capability associated with growth and developmental maturation; however, there is a paucity of data in preschool-aged children. Study aims were 1) to describe absolute and relative energy cost of common activities of preschool-aged children in terms of VO2, energy expenditure (kilocalories per minute) and child-specific metabolic equivalents (METs) measured by room calorimetry for use in the Youth Compendium of Physical Activity, and 2) to predict METs from age, sex and heart rate (HR). Energy expenditure (EE), oxygen consumption (VO2), HR, and child-METs of 13 structured activities were measured by room respiration calorimetry in 119 healthy children, ages 3 to 5 years. EE, VO2, HR, and child-METs are presented for 13 structured activities ranging from sleeping, sedentary, low-, moderate- to high-active. A significant curvilinear relationship was observed between child-METs and HR (r2 = .85; P = .001). Age-specific child METs for 13 structured activities in preschool-aged children will be useful to extend the Youth Compendium of Physical Activity for research purposes and practical applications. HR may serve as an objective measure of MET intensity in preschool-aged children.