Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T13:08:37.039Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Energy expenditure during heavy work and its interaction with body weight

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

P. Haggarty
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Rd, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB
M. E. Valencia
Affiliation:
CIAD AC, PO Box 1735, Hennosillo, Sonora, Mexico
G. McNeill
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Rd, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB9 2ZD
N. L. Gonzales
Affiliation:
CIAD AC, PO Box 1735, Hennosillo, Sonora, Mexico
S. Y. Moya
Affiliation:
CIAD AC, PO Box 1735, Hennosillo, Sonora, Mexico
A. Pinelli
Affiliation:
CIAD AC, PO Box 1735, Hennosillo, Sonora, Mexico
L. Quihui
Affiliation:
CIAD AC, PO Box 1735, Hennosillo, Sonora, Mexico
M. S. Saucedo
Affiliation:
CIAD AC, PO Box 1735, Hennosillo, Sonora, Mexico
J. Esparza
Affiliation:
CIAD AC, PO Box 1735, Hennosillo, Sonora, Mexico
J. Ashton
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Rd, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB
E. Milne
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Rd, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB
W. P. T. James
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Rd, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The present study was designed to investigate the interaction between body weight and energy expenditure in well-nourished individuals. Energy expenditure was determined during a 10 d highly controlled work programme in apparently well-nourished adult male construction workers with a wide range of body weights (mean weight: 63·9 (SD 11·0, range 46·7-80·1) kg, mean BMI: 22·5 (SD 3·8, range 16·7-28·9) kg/m2). Total energy expenditure (mean: 12·68 (SE 0·73) MJ/d or 1·78 (SE 0·07) x BMR) was determined using doubly-labelled water and the energy costs of work activities by Oxylog. The energy expenditure during work (mean: 5·75 (SE 0·29) MJ/day or 3·48 (SE 0·09) x BMR) was estimated from the energy costs of individual tasks and the time spent in those tasks. The energy expenditure during discretionary time (mean: 4·37 (SE 0·58) MJ/d or 1·49 (SE 0·17) x BMR) was calculated by subtracting occupation and sleep expenditure (taken as1 x BMR) from total expenditure. Food intake and discretionary time allocation were recorded by the subjects. The energy expenditure in the programmed work activities (expressed as a multiple of BMR) showed a significant increase (P=0·035) with increasing body weight, suggesting that the assumed constancy of BMR multiples across a wide range of body weights may not be valid. This assertion was supported by theoretical calculations based on empirically derived equations. In order to avoid errors which could be interpreted as metabolic ‘adaptation’ it may be necessary to take account of body weight when using the BMR-multiple approach to estimate energy requirements at low body weights.

Type
Human and Clinical Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1997

References

REFERENCES

Benedict, F. G., Miles, W. R., Roth, P. & Smith, H. M. (1919). Human Vitality and Efficiency under Prolonged Restricted Diet. Publication no. 280. Washington, DC: Carnegie Institute.Google Scholar
Black, A. E., Prentice, A. M. & Coward, W. A. (1986). Use of food quotients to predict respiratory quotients for the doubly labelled water method of measuring energy expenditure. Human Nutrition: Clinical Nutrition 40C, 381391.Google Scholar
Coward, W. A. (1990). Calculation of pool size and flux rates. In IDECG Report. The Doubly Labelled Water Method for Measuring Energy Expenditure. Technical Recommendations for Use in Humans, pp. 114146 [A. M, Prentice editor]. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency.Google Scholar
Coward, W. A., Roberts, S. B. & Cole, T. J. (1988). Theoretical and practical considerations in the doubly labelled water (2H218O) method for measurement of carbon dioxide production rate in man. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 207212.Google ScholarPubMed
Department of Health (1991). Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 41. London: H. M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Diaz, E., Goldberg, G. R., Taylor, M., Savage, J. M., Sellen, D., Coward, W. A. & Prentice, A. M. (1991). Effects of dietary supplementation on work performance in Gambian laborers. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 53, 803811.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations University (1985). Energy and Protein Requirements. Report of a Joint Expert Consultation. WHO Technical Report Series, no. 724. Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
Goldberg, G. R., Prentice, A. M., Davies, H. L. & Murgatroyd, P. R. (1988). Overnight and basal metabolic rates in men and women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 137144.Google ScholarPubMed
Grijalva, M. I., Caire, G., Sanchez, A. & Valencia, M. E. (1995). Chemical composition, dietary fiber and mineral content of frequently consumed foods in Northwest Mexico. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 45, 145150.Google Scholar
Gulick, A. (1922). A study of weight regulation in the adult human body during over-nutrition. American Journal of Physiology 60, 371395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haggarty, P., Franklin, M. F., Fuller, M. F., MacGaw, B. A., Christie, S. L., Milne, E., Duncan, G. & Smith, J. S. (1994 a). Validation of the doubly labelled water method in growing pigs. American Journal of Physiology 267, R1574-R1588.Google ScholarPubMed
Haggarty, P., McNeill, G., Abu Manneh, M. K., Davidson, L., Milne, E., Duncan, G. & Ashton, J. (1994 b). The influence of exercise on the energy requirements of adult males in the UK. British Journal of Nutrition, 72, 799813.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hernandez, M., Chavez, A. & Bourges, H. (1980). The Nutritive Value of Foods, 8th ed. Mexico DF, Mexico: Instituto Nacional de la Nutricion.Google Scholar
Humphrey, S. J. E. & Wolf, H. S (1977). The Oxylog. Journal of Physiology 12P, 267.Google Scholar
James, W. P. T. (1988). Research relating to energy adaptation in man. In Chronic Energy Deficiency: Consequences and Related Issues, pp. 736 [Schurch, B. and Scrimshaw, N. S., editors]. Lausanne: International Dietary Energy Consultancy Group.Google Scholar
James, W. P. T. & Schofield, E. C. (1990). Human Energy Requiremenis. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Jardines, R. P., Bermudez, M. C., Wong, P. & Leon, G. (1985). Dishes (or: “mixed meals”) consumed in Sonora: regionalization and nutrient content. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 37, 785789.Google Scholar
Keys, A., Brozek, A., Henschel, A., Miccelsen, O. & Taylor, H. L. (1950). The Biology of Human Starvation. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Livingstone, M. B. E., Strain, J. J., Prentice, A. M., Coward, W. A., Nevin, G. B., Barker, M. E., Hickey, R. J., McKenna, P. G. & Whitehead, R. G. (1991). Potential contribution of leisure activity to the energy expenditure patterns of sedentary populations. British Journal of Nutrition 65, 145155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McNeill, G., Cox, M. D. & Rivers, J. P. W. (1987). The Oxylog oxygen consumption meter: a portable device for measurement of energy expenditure. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 14161419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Margaria, R., Cerretelli, P., Aghemo, P. & Sassi, G. (1963). Energy cost of running. Journal of Applied Physiology 18, 367370.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Neumann, R. O. (1902). Experimentelle Beitrage zur Lehre von dem taglichen Nahrungsbedarf des Menschen unter besonder Berucksichtigung der notwendigen Eiweissmenge (Experiments relating to the study of the daily nutritional requirements in man with particular consideration of the required amounts of protein). Archives für Hygeine und Bacteriologie 45, 187.Google Scholar
Paul, A. A. & Southgate, D. A. T. (1985). McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 3rd ed. London: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Shetty, P. S. & James, W. P. T. (1994). Body Mass Index, a Measure of Chronic Energy Deficiency in Adults. Food and Agriculture Organization Food and Nutrition Paper 56. Rome: FAO.Google Scholar
Spurr, G. B. (1988). Effects of chronic energy deficiency on stature, work capacity and productivity. In Chronic Energy Deficiency: Consequences and Related Issues, pp. 95134 [Schurch, B. and Scrimshaw, N. S., editors]. Lausanne: International Dietary Energy Consultancy Group.Google Scholar
Sukhatme, P. V. & Margen, S. (1982). Auto-regulatory homeostatic nature of energy balance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 35, 355365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Torun, B., Flores, R., Viteri, F., Immink, M. & Diaz, E. (1989). Energy supplementation and work performance: Summary of Incap studies. Proceedings of the XIV International Congress of Nutrition, Seoul, pp. 306309. Seoul: Korean Nutrition Society.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture (1986). Handbook of the Nutritional Value of Foods in Common Units. Prepared by Catherine F. Adam for the US Department of Agriculture. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.Google Scholar
Weir, J. B.De, V. (1949). New methods of calculating metabolic rate, with special reference to protein metabolism. Journal of Physiology 109, 19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed