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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Components and Health Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #119261
Title: DETERMINANTS ASSOCIATED WITH OVER- AND UNDER-ESTIMATION OF ENERGY EXPENDITURE USING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECORDS AND THE SEVEN DAY RECALL AS COMPARED TO DOUBLY LABELED WATER

Author
item IRWIN, MELINDA - FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER
item AINWORTH, BARBARA - UNIV OF SOUTH CAROLINA
item Conway, Joan

Submitted to: Obesity Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2001
Publication Date: 9/1/2001
Citation: Irwin, M.L., Ainworth, B.E., Conway, J.M. 2001. Determinants associated with over- and under-estimation of energy expenditure using physical activity records and the seven day recall as compared to doubly labeled water. Obesity Research. 9:517-525.

Interpretive Summary: There are a number of different methods for measuring energy expenditure, however, because of its complex nature accurate measurement of energy expenditure is difficult. To describe the determinants associated with over- and under-estimation of energy expenditure using Physical Activity (PA) Records and the Stanford Seven Day Physical Activity Recall (7DR) as compared to doubly labeled water (DLW). We collected PA Records and the 7DR on 24 males eating a controlled diet designed to maintain body weight and determined energy expenditure (EE) from DLW. Forty-two and twenty- nine percent of the subjects estimated their EE within +/- 10% using PA Records and 7DR, respectively. The trend for over-estimating EE increased with age and body fatness. EE was over-estimated by 16.7% among men 50 years and older as compared to only 5.3% among men less than 40 years of age. EE was over-estimated by 19.7% among men with a % body fat >/= 30% as compared to only 5.6% among men with a % body fat < 25%. The trend for under-estimating EE increased as physical activity level (as measured by DLW divided by measured basal metabolic rate) increased. Age, body fatness, and physical activity level are determinants of over- and under- estimation of EE using PA Records and the 7DR. This study will benefit scientists and policy makers in designing methods to evaluate physical activity in adults and describing the percent of the population meeting current national physical activity recommendations.

Technical Abstract: There are a number of different methods for measuring energy expenditure, however, because of its complex nature accurate measurement of energy expenditure is difficult. To describe the determinants associated with over- and under-estimation of energy expenditure using Physical Activity (PA) Records and the Stanford Seven Day Physical Activity Recall (7DR) as compared to doubly labeled water (DLW). We collected PA Records and the 7DR on 24 males eating a controlled diet designed to maintain body weight and determined energy expenditure (EE) from DLW. Forty-two and twenty- nine percent of the subjects estimated their EE within +/- 10% using PA Records and 7DR, respectively. The trend for over-estimating EE increased with age and body fatness. EE was over-estimated by 16.7% among men 50 years and older as compared to only 5.3% among men less than 40 years of age. EE was over-estimated by 19.7% among men with a % body fat >/= 30% as compared to only 5.6% among men with a % body fat < 25%. The trend for under-estimating EE increased as physical activity level (as measured by DLW divided by measured basal metabolic rate) increased. Age, body fatness, and physical activity level are determinants of over- and under- estimation of EE using PA Records and the 7DR. These factors should be taken into consideration when designing exercise interventions and describing the percent of the population meeting current national physical activity recommendations.