Measurement and prediction of energy expenditure in males during household and garden tasks

Abstract

Participation in at least 30 min of moderate intensity activity on most days is assumed to confer health benefits. This study accordingly determined whether the more vigorous household and garden tasks (sweeping, window cleaning, vacuuming and lawn mowing) are performed by middle-aged men at a moderate intensity of 3-6 metabolic equivalents (METs) in the laboratory and at home. Measured energy expenditure during self-perceived moderate-paced walking was used as a marker of exercise intensity. Energy expenditure was also predicted via indirect methods. Thirty-six males [ X (SD): 40.0 (3.3) years; 179.5 (6.9) cm; 83.4 (14.0) kg] were measured for resting metabolic rate (RMR) and oxygen consumption ( VO(2)) during the five activities using the Douglas bag method. Heart rate, respiratory frequency, CSA (Computer Science Applications) movement counts, Borg scale ratings of perceived exertion and Quetelet's index were also recorded as potential predictors of exercise intensity. Except for vacuuming in the laboratory, which was not significantly different from 3.0 METs ( P=0.98), the MET means in the laboratory and home were all significantly greater than 3.0 ( P</=0.006). The sweeping and vacuuming MET means were significantly higher ( P<0.001) at home than in the laboratory, whereas the converse applied for window cleaning and lawn mowing. Measured RMR was significantly lower ( P<0.001) than the 1-MET constant. Estimating METs by fitting random intercept regression models to the data resulted in standard deviations for the "leave-one-out" prediction errors (predicted-measured) of 0.4 and 0.5 METs for the laboratory and home equations, respectively. While the means indicate that all the activities were performed at a moderate intensity, there was great inter-individual variability in energy expenditure. The laboratory and home-based equations predicted with correct classification rates of 89% and 88%, respectively, whether energy expenditure was <3.0 or >/=3.0 METs.

Examination of the Estimated Resting Metabolic Equivalent (MET) in Overweight and Obesity

“…1,2 The origins of the MET to express energy expenditure during different forms of physical activity relative to resting energy expenditure appears to date back to approximately 1890, 13 which was followed by similar observations made decades later. 3,14 Thus, the findings of the current study, which are similar to the finding of others, 10,12 may suggest that the energy cost of a variety of physical activities may be over-estimated when using common reference-MET values. Moreover, the data from this study may suggest that this over-estimation may be of particular concern for women and for individuals at a higher BMI.…”

“…For example, in a sample of 36 males (age=40.0±3.3 years; BMI=25.9±3.8 kg/m 2 ) measured relative VO 2rest (3.0±0.3 ml/kg/ min) was significantly lower than the reference-MET value (3.5 ml/kg/min). 10 Gunn et al 11 have also reported a similar pattern in a sample of 50 males (age=60.6±3.2 years; BMI=26.7±3.2 kg/ m 2 ). In a mixed sample of males and females, Byrne et al 12 also reported that VO 2rest (2.6±0.4 ml/kg/min) was significantly lower than the reference-MET value (3.5 ml/kg/min).…”

Epidemiologia nutricional

“…Localiza-se o valor do código de múltiplo de METs da atividade e multiplica-se tal valor pelo MET individual (ver exemplo a seguir). No entanto, há evidências de que o valor fixo de MET não é adequado para vários grupos populacionais (Byrne et al, 2005;Gunn et al, 2004). De fato, dados coletados entre 58 alunas do curso de nutrição da Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, indicaram um valor médio de MET igual a 3,2 mL O 2 /kg peso corporal/minuto (Anjos et al, s. d.).…”

A Comparison of Exercise Intensity between Two Horticultural and Four Common Physical Activities among Male Adults in Their 20s

“…Advanced research has revealed that gardening involves low-to high-intensity energy consumption and requires the use of various muscles Brooks et al, 2004;Gunn et al, 2002Gunn et al, , 2004Park et al, 2008aPark et al, , 2011Park et al, , 2012Park et al, , 2013Park et al, , 2014a. Park et al (2014a) examined the intensity of 10 gardening activities.…”

“…The intensity of yard work specifically for adults was also determined; trimming and raking were classified as moderate-intensity activities (3.53 ± 0.76 to 5.95 ± 1.38 METs) . Moreover, lawn mowing was examined in a laboratory setting and subsequently classified as a moderateintensity activity, at 5.6 ± 1.0 and 6.0 ± 1.0 METs for 35-to 45-year-old Australian adults of both genders, respectively (Brooks et al, 2004;Gunn et al, 2004).…”