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Spontaneous physical activity in a respiratory chamber is correlated to habitual physical activity

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 1481–1486 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: During a stay in a respiratory chamber without an exercise protocol, physical activity is limited to activities of daily living, change of posture and ‘fidgeting,’ collectively referred to as spontaneous physical activity (SPA). SPA is quite variable among individuals and is a heritable trait. A low SPA during a chamber stay is a predictor of weight gain in men. However, it remains to be established whether physical activity in a respiratory chamber relates to physical activity under habitual, free-living conditions. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether physical activity in a chamber is correlated to habitual, free-living physical activity.

DESIGN: Fifty healthy, non-diabetic Pima Indians (30 M/20 F, 30±6 y; 37±10% body fat; means±s.d.) completed a 24 h stay in the respiratory chamber followed by a 7 day measurement of habitual, free-living energy expenditure by doubly labeled water. Free-living physical activity was expressed as activity energy expenditure (AEEFL; daily energy expenditure−(sleeping metabolic rate+thermic effect of food)), physical activity level (PALFL; daily energy expenditure/sleeping metabolic rate) and body-size independent activity units. Activity during the chamber stay was expressed as PALCh, AEECh, and based on radar sensor measurements, as percentage of time with activity (SPARadar).

RESULTS: AEEFL (averaging 930±310 kcal/day (3.89±1.30 MJ/day)) was correlated to AEECH (averaging 440±160 kcal/day (1.84±0.67 MJ/day)) and higher in men than in women (r=0.53, P=0.003) and r=0.53, P=0.02, respectively). Likewise, PALFL (averaging 1.75±0.21) was correlated to PALCh (averaging 1.42±0.10) and higher in men than in women (r=0.49, P=0.006 and r=0.42, P=0.02, respecitvely). Free-living activity expressed in body-size independent activity units (averaging 17.8±7.0) was correlated to SPARadar (averaging 6.4±1.7) with no effect of sex (r=0.30, P=0.03).

CONCLUSION: Physical activity in a respiratory chamber was correlated to habitual physical activity, whether expressed as AEE, PAL or body-size independent activity units, providing a plausible explanation for the demonstrated association between a low SPA in the chamber and weight gain. The study encourages further studies of the genetic and non-genetic determinants of SPA and non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT).

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the members of the Gila River Indian Community, who have contributed enormously to the understanding of obesity and diabetes. The efforts of Tom Anderson (chamber measurements), Inge Harper (mass spectrometry), Lila Antone and Joann Pratt (recruiters) were greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Diabetes and Nutrition, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    S Snitker

  2. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

    PA Tataranni

  3. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

    E Ravussin

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  1. S Snitker
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  2. PA Tataranni
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Correspondence to S Snitker.

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Snitker, S., Tataranni, P. & Ravussin, E. Spontaneous physical activity in a respiratory chamber is correlated to habitual physical activity. Int J Obes 25, 1481–1486 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801746

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