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Physical activity, energy expenditure and their correlates in two cohorts of Swedish subjects between adolescence and early adulthood

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 1324–1334 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess physical activity and energy expenditure and to identify their correlates during adolescence and early adulthood.

Design:

In a cohort study, total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity level (PAL) were assessed at 15 and 21 y from a 7-day activity diary and predicted BMR. The influences on TEE and PAL of body size, gender, sexual maturity, physical activity habits, sitting time, region, social conditions, employment, food habits, smoking and alcohol intake were examined in multivariate analyses.

Subjects:

71 male and 89 female subjects, living in two socioeconomically different regions of Sweden, a university region and an industrial region.

Setting:

The university city of Uppsala and the industrial town of Trollhättan.

Results:

At both 15 and 21 y, PAL and TEE were high, with gender, sitting time and physical activity habits as main correlates. At age 21 y, employment and the mother's educational level also appeared as significant correlates. The relations between the main variables and their correlates were more complex than at age 15 y, and the sitting time was reduced and the activity habits were changed.

Conclusions:

A reduction of daily sitting appears to be a major reason why high levels of physical activity and energy expenditure were maintained from 15 to 21 y of age in spite of changed and less frequent activity habits during this interval.

Sponsorship:

Uppsala University, County Councils of Uppsala and Älvsborg and the Swedish Dairies Association of Research and Development.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the subjects who participated in this study. We also thank Heléne Enghardt-Barbieri, Christina Enander, Marianne Hedgren, Eva Ribom-Ljunggren and Hans Fors for excellent support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Physiology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    L-E Bratteby, B Sandhagen & G Samuelson

  2. Department of Nursing, Health and Culture, University of Trollhättan—Uddevalla, Vänersborg, Sweden

    G Samuelson

Authors
  1. L-E Bratteby
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  2. B Sandhagen
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  3. G Samuelson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L-E Bratteby.

Additional information

Guarantor: L-E Bratteby.

Contributors: This study is part of a more extensive investigation of food habits, nutritional intake, energy expenditure, physical activity, body composition, bone mineralisation and iron status in two cohorts of subjects between adolescence and adulthood, designed and organised by GS and L-EB. L-EB was the main investigator of the present study and wrote the paper. BS did the data and statistical analyses. GS was responsible for the nutritional studies. All three authors participated in the discussion of the results and in editing the paper.

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Bratteby, LE., Sandhagen, B. & Samuelson, G. Physical activity, energy expenditure and their correlates in two cohorts of Swedish subjects between adolescence and early adulthood. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 1324–1334 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602246

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