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The use of uniaxial accelerometry for the assessment of physical-activity-related energy expenditure: a validation study against whole-body indirect calorimetry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Hideaki Kumahara ,
Yves Schutz ,
Makoto Ayabe ,
Mayumi Yoshioka ,
Yutaka Yoshitake ,
Munehiro Shindo ,
Kojiro Ishii  and
Hiroaki Tanaka
Hideaki Kumahara
Affiliation:
Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Laboratory of Human Performance and Fitness, Graduate School of Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Yves Schutz*
Affiliation:
Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Makoto Ayabe
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Human Performance and Fitness, Graduate School of Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Mayumi Yoshioka
Affiliation:
Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Center, Laval University Medical Center and Laval University, Quebec, Canada
Yutaka Yoshitake
Affiliation:
Department for Interdisciplinary Studies of Lifelong Sport and Physical Activity, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
Munehiro Shindo
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
Kojiro Ishii
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Human Performance and Fitness, Graduate School of Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Hiroaki Tanaka
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Yves Schutz, fax +41 21 692 55 95, email Yves.Schutz@iphysiol.unil.ch
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Abstract

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Assessing the total energy expenditure (TEE) and the levels of physical activity in free-living conditions with non-invasive techniques remains a challenge. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of a new uniaxial accelerometer for assessing TEE and physical-activity-related energy expenditure (PAEE) over a 24 h period in a respiratory chamber, and to establish activity levels based on the accelerometry ranges corresponding to the operationally defined metabolic equivalent (MET) categories. In study 1, measurement of the 24 h energy expenditure of seventy-nine Japanese subjects (40 (SD 12) years old) was performed in a large respiratory chamber. During the measurements, the subjects wore a uniaxial accelerometer (Lifecorder; Suzuken Co. Ltd, Nagoya, Japan) on their belt. Two moderate walking exercises of 30 min each were performed on a horizontal treadmill. In study 2, ten male subjects walked at six different speeds and ran at three different speeds on a treadmill for 4 min, with the same accelerometer. O2 consumption was measured during the last minute of each stage and was expressed in MET. The measured TEE was 8447 (SD 1337) kJ/d. The accelerometer significantly underestimated TEE and PAEE (91·9 (SD 5·4) and 92·7 (SD 17·8) % chamber value respectively); however, there was a significant correlation between the two values (r 0·928 and 0·564 respectively; P<0·001). There was a strong correlation between the activity levels and the measured MET while walking (r2 0·93; P<0·001). Although TEE and PAEE were systematically underestimated during the 24 h period, the accelerometer assessed energy expenditure well during both the exercise period and the non-structured activities. Individual calibration factors may help to improve the accuracy of TEE estimation, but the average calibration factor for the group is probably sufficient for epidemiological research. This method is also important for assessing the diurnal profile of physical activity.

Keywords

AccelerometerDaily energy expenditurePhysical activityRespiration chamber
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 91 , Issue 2 , February 2004 , pp. 235 - 243
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2004

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