Energy Expenditure at Rest & Physical Activity

McArdle, Katch, & Katch Chapter 8

Energy Expenditure at Rest

Basal Metabolic Rate

BMR is rate of energy expenditure fasted, rested and supine conditions in thermoneutral environment.

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is rate of energy expenditure when at rest but not basal (> BMR).
BMR proportional to BSA, after age 20 2% & 3% per decade in women and men, respectively When RMR expressed per unit LBM, no difference BMR represents largest fraction of TEE in sedentary

Energy Expenditure at Rest

Influence of Body Size

Differences in body size usually expressed in terms of body surface area (BSA). From 20-40, average values BMR are 38 kcal/m2 per hour for men and 36 kcal/m2 for women. Lower BMR in women can be attributed to womans larger percent body fat & smaller muscle mass.

Energy Expenditure at Rest

Estimate Resting Daily Energy Expenditure

Estimate kcal expenditure during rest by multiplying ones surface area from nomogram by appropriate kcal expenditure/m2 per hour by 24 hrs. Also possible to use Harris Bennedict formulas. Estimated values w/i 5% measured values.

Energy Expenditure at Rest

Components of Total Daily Energy Expenditure

Physical Activity: 15-30% of TDEE Dietary Induced Thermogenesis (~10% TDEE)

Thermic effect from processes of digesting, absorbing, & assimilating nutrients. Thermogenesis reaches maximum w/i 1 hr post Thermogenesis can vary 10%35% of ingested food energy

Resting Metabolic Rate

Energy Expenditure at Rest

Factors affecting Total Daily Energy Expenditure

Climate. RMR of people in tropic climate averages 5-10% higher. RMR in extreme cold can triple. Pregnancy.

Energy Expenditure in Physical Activity

Expression of Energy Expenditure

Total (gross) Resting energy expenditure (REE) = Net energy cost of the activity per se. Recovery energy included in Total = exercise energy + recovery energy. Utilization of 1 liter of O2 generates about 5 kcal of energy.

Net O2 cost of exercise = exercise VO2 + recovery VO2 (resting VO2 x time)

Energy Expenditure in Physical Activity

Energy expended during weight-bearing activities increases proportional to body mass. There is little relationship between body mass and energy expended during non-weight-bearing activities.

Energy Expenditure in Physical Activity

Average daily Total Energy Expenditure estimated to be 2900 3000 kCal for males, and 2200 kCal for females 15-50 y.o.a. Great variability exists because of ones physical activity; average person spends ___% day sedentary.

Energy Expenditure in Physical Activity

Classification of Work Factors:

Duration (min) and Intensity (VO2 & kCal)

A MET is a measure of activity intensity & represents an average persons resting metabolism or VO2

1 MET = 3.5 mlkg1min-1

Energy Expenditure in Physical Activity

Classification of Work

Intensity of Work often related to Heart Rate because of linear relationship to oxygen uptake.

Economy & Efficiency of Energy Expenditure

Mechanical Efficiency = Work Output Energy Input (expenditure). Work Output = Force x Distance

kg m or ft lb. Gross Net Delta

Three efficiency terms:

1. 2.

3.

Economy & Efficiency of Energy Expenditure

Gross efficiency uses total oxygen uptake. Work Output Energy Expended Net efficiency subtracts resting VO2 from total. Work Output Energy Expended Above Rest Delta efficiency computes relative energy cost of performing an additional increment of work.

Energy Expenditure during Walking, Running, and Swimming

Economy is relationship between

Energy output Energy input

Greater economy requires less oxygen uptake to perform a task. Training adjustment that improves economy directly relates to improved exercise performance.

Energy Expenditure during Walking, Running, and Swimming

Energy Expenditure during Walking

Relationship between walking speed and oxygen uptake essentially linear between speeds of 3.0 and 5.0 kilometers per hour (1.9 to 3.1 mph). At faster speeds, walking becomes less economical and relationship curves in upward direction.

Energy Expenditure during Walking, Running, and Swimming

Walking on snow and sand requires about twice the energy expenditure of walking on hard surfaces. Energy cost is proportionally larger for larger people. Hand-held weights increases energy cost of walking but may disproportionately elevate systolic blood pressure.

Energy Expenditure during Running

More economical to discontinue walking and begin to run or jog at speeds > 6.5 kmh (4 mph). Net energy cost of running a given distance is independent of speed (pace). Lengthening stride above the optimum length (and reducing stride frequency) increases VO2 more than shortening below optimum (and increasing stride frequency). Cost of running into headwind significantly greater than the reduction with tailwind.

Energy Expenditure during Swimming

Energy expenditure to swim a given distance is about 4 times greater than to run same distance. Energy must be expended to maintain buoyancy while generating horizontal motion and to overcome drag forces. Total drag consists of:
Wave drag Skin friction drag Viscous pressure drag

Energy Expenditure during Swimming

Elite swimmers expend fewer calories to swim a given stroke at any velocity. Women swim a given distance at lower energy cost than men because of greater buoyancy.

Illustration Reference

McArdle, William D., Frank I. Katch, and Victor L. Katch. 2006. Essentials of Exercise Physiology 3rd ed. Image Collection. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.