Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity and reliability of a hand-held indirect calorimeter.
DESIGN: Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured on two separate mornings.
SUBJECTS: A heterogeneous sample of 41 healthy adults.
MEASUREMENTS: RMR using both a metabolic cart (Sensormedics 2900, SM-2900) and a hand-held indirect calorimeter (BodyGem™, BG).
RESULTS: There were no trial-to-trial differences in RMR measured by the BG (6756±163 vs 6697±163 kJ/day) or the SM-2900 (6400±163 vs 6396±167 kJ/day). RMR measured by the BG was significantly higher than that measured by the SM-2900 during both trials. In a sample of 10 subjects, the energy cost of holding the BG in position was determined to be (0.17±0.04 kJ/min, or 255±84 kJ/day). After applying this adjustment, the differences between systems were no longer significant during trial 1 (mean difference=101±67 kJ/day) or trial 2 (46±75 kJ/day). In overweight and obese individuals, RMR measured by the BodyGem™ was more accurate than that estimated by the Harris–Benedict equations.
CONCLUSION: The BodyGem™ provides valid and reliable measurements of RMR. The BodyGem™ produces significantly higher values than the Sensor Medics 2900 indirect calorimeter, with the increase largely due to an increased energy demand required to hold the BG in position.
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This study was funded by Healthetech, Inc.
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Melanson, E., Coelho, L., Tran, Z. et al. Validation of the BodyGem™ hand-held calorimeter. Int J Obes 28, 1479–1484 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802643
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802643
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