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Validation of a simplified physical activity record by doubly labeled water technique

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 302–309 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

For obtaining reliable information about physical activity in epidemiological studies, validated and easy-to-use instruments are required. Therefore, a new simplified physical activity record based on 15-min recording intervals was developed and validated.

SUBJECTS:

Nonobese volunteers (n=31).

MEASUREMENTS:

Physical activity was recorded over a 7-day period without detailed instructions. Energy expenditure was calculated (EEsPAR) and compared to energy expenditure measured by doubly labelled water technique (EEDLW).

RESULTS:

A good agreement between EEsPAR (12.1±3.0) and EEDLW (11.7±3.3) with a mean difference of 0.33±1.55 MJ (r=0.880, P<0.001) was observed. The absolute difference between EEsPAR and EEDLW was <10% in 65% of the subjects. The difference between EEsPAR and EEDLW was independent of gender, age, body weight, and body mass index. A weak positive association between the difference and total body fat was observed (r=0.618, P<0.001), suggesting a slight tendency to overestimate EEsPAR with increasing total body fat.

CONCLUSION:

The new simplified physical activity protocol needs no detailed instructions, provides valid estimates of physical activity in nonobese free-living adults and can be used in epidemiological studies to assess total daily energy expenditure and physical activity level.

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Acknowledgements

This study was carried out with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, BodyLife IST-2000-25410, specific RTD programme ‘User-friendly Information Society’. It does not necessarily reflect its views and in no way anticipates the Commission's future policy in this area. We thank Sylvie Pester, Dagmar Vulprecht, and Eileen Nebel for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany

    C Koebnick, K Wagner, F Thielecke, J Moeseneder, A Hoehne, A Franke, A L Garcia, U Trippo & H J F Zunft

  2. Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Karlsruhe, Germany

    J Moeseneder

  3. Isotope Laboratory of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany

    H Meyer

  4. Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Nuthetal, Germany

    H J F Zunft

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  1. C Koebnick
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  2. K Wagner
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  3. F Thielecke
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Correspondence to C Koebnick.

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Koebnick, C., Wagner, K., Thielecke, F. et al. Validation of a simplified physical activity record by doubly labeled water technique. Int J Obes 29, 302–309 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802882

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