Measurement of human energy expenditure, with particular reference to field studies: an historical perspective

Abstract

Over the years, techniques for the study of human movement have ranged in complexity and precision from direct observation of the subject through activity diaries, questionnaires, and recordings of body movement, to the measurement of physiological responses, studies of metabolism and indirect and direct calorimetry. This article reviews developments in each of these domains. Particular reference is made to their impact upon the continuing search for valid field estimates of activity patterns and energy expenditures, as required by the applied physiologist, ergonomist, sports scientist, nutritionist and epidemiologist. Early observers sought to improve productivity in demanding employment. Direct observation and filming of workers were supplemented by monitoring of heart rates, ventilation and oxygen consumption. Such methods still find application in ergonomics and sport, but many investigators are now interested in relationships between habitual physical activity and chronic disease. Even sophisticated questionnaires still do not provide valid information on the absolute energy expenditures associated with good health. Emphasis has thus shifted to use of sophisticated pedometer/accelerometers, sometimes combining their output with GPS and other data. Some modern pedometer/accelerometers perform well in the laboratory, but show substantial systematic errors relative to laboratory reference criteria such as the metabolism of doubly labeled water when assessing the varied activities of daily life. The challenge remains to develop activity monitors that are sufficiently inexpensive for field use, yet meet required accuracy standards. Possibly, measurements of oxygen consumption by portable respirometers may soon satisfy part of this need, although a need for valid longer term monitoring will remain.

The Post-Modern Era: Chronic Disease and the Onslaught of a Sedentary Lifestyle

“…Such estimates proved adequate for a simple 2-3 level classification of habitual activity patterns, but major systematic errors in the estimation of active energy expenditures precluded the interpretation of responses in terms of dose-response relationships (Shephard 2003a;Shephard and Aoyagi 2012).…”

Healthy behaviours and COPD

“…Indirect calorimetry methods, based on the determination of overall oxygen consumption by respirometers, also provide data of debated validity. Therefore, until recently, physical activity assessment for epidemiological purposes mostly relied on questionnaires [35]. Although activity monitors might provide more accurate and reliable (i.e.…”

Book review

“…Use of the pedometer is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, but my understanding is that he eyed his device as a military tool, a means of measuring the boundaries of contested territory. Application of the pedometer to the monitoring of personal walking patterns should probably be attributed to an 18th century Swiss watchmaker, Abraham Louis Perrelet (1729-1826), and it was the dedicated pedestrian Thomas Jefferson who popularized the pedometer in North America (Shephard and Aoyagi 2012). This chapter gives clear descriptions of some of the most popular physical activity questionnaires, but I wonder whether the rating of their validity as "fair to moderate" shines adequate light upon the 3-to 5-fold absolute error associated with the activity estimates that are derived from some of these instruments.…”