Energy Expenditure in Humans and Other Primates: A New Synthesis

Abstract

This article is part of a special theme on Resources. For a list of other articles in this theme, see http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/ 10.1146/annurev-an-44-themes Keywords doubly labeled water, flex-heart rate, factorial method, life history, total energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate AbstractThis review examines the proximate, ecological, and evolutionary determinants of energy expenditure in humans and primates, with an emphasis on empirical measurements of total energy expenditure (TEE). Body size is the main proximate determinant of TEE, both within and between species; physical activity, genetic variation, and endocrine regulation explain substantially less of the variation in TEE. Basal metabolism is the single largest component of TEE, far exceeding the cost of physical activity, digestion, growth and reproduction, and thermoregulation in most instances. Notably, differences in physical activity do not generally result in corresponding differences in TEE, undermining the utility of activity-based factorial estimates of TEE. Instead, empirical measurements of energy expenditure in humans and other primates suggest that the body adapts dynamically to long-term changes in physical activity, maintaining TEE within an evolved, and relatively narrow, physiological range. 169

Energy (Im-)Balance in Frugivorous Lemurs in Southern Madagascar: A Preliminary Study in Lemur catta and Eulemur rufifrons × collaris

“…TEE was formerly assessed in groups of lemurs that were foraging within the same forest areas as those studied here. Despite the discontinuity between the studies, energy intake can be contrasted with energy expenditure values on the basis that TEE is maintained within a narrow, species-specific physiological range, as discussed by Pontzer [2015]. Indeed, recent findings in humans [Pontzer et al, 2016b] show that TEE during habitual physical activity cannot be considered as the sum of each metabolic cost incurred for body maintenance and behavioral activity (referred to as the additive model).…”

“…Indeed, recent findings in humans [Pontzer et al, 2016b] show that TEE during habitual physical activity cannot be considered as the sum of each metabolic cost incurred for body maintenance and behavioral activity (referred to as the additive model). The constrained energy model [Pontzer et al, 2016b], in contrast, is supported by an increasing number of studies in mammals, including primates, which show that TEE (measured with doubly labeled water over an interval of a few days) does not differ substantially between seasons or between captive and wild individuals (TEE or mass-adjusted TEE [Kenagy et al, 1989;Nagy et al, 1999;Pontzer et al, 2014Pontzer et al, , 2016aPontzer, 2015]). In this model, TEE is maintained within a narrow metabolic range because metabolic and behavioral adjustments offset the costs induced by energy-demanding activities such as vigorous physical activity [Pontzer, 2015;Pontzer et al, 2016b].…”

Novas evidências: a relação entre a perda de peso e a atividade física

“…Na verdade, o gasto de energia total aumenta com o início da prática de atividade física moderada, mas tende a atingir um platô, não obstante o aumento da demanda pelo exercício. 1,2 Estudo recente, de 2016, desafia fortemente a ideia de intensificação das atividades físicas no longo prazo como mecanismo efetivo na perda de peso. Esse achado deve ser cuidadosamente avaliado, pois chama a atenção para a necessidade de se estudar mais profundamente a questão da economia de energia no organismo -ao se considerar que, a partir de certo ponto, a atividade física não se reflete em maior gasto de energia total, ela deixa de ser uma forma direta de perda de peso.…”

“…2 Esse é o modelo da energia restrita. O maior componente do gasto total de energia é o metabolismo basal, correspondendo a mais da metade desse gasto na maioria das pessoas.…”

“…O maior componente do gasto total de energia é o metabolismo basal, correspondendo a mais da metade desse gasto na maioria das pessoas. 2 Outros componentes importantes do gasto total de energia são: a atividade física, o crescimento, a reprodução, a atividade imunológica, a digestão e a termorregulação. O modelo da energia restrita sugere que a distribuição de energia entre as atividades fisiológicas é responsiva a uma mudança em longo prazo na atividade física.…”