ABSTRACT
Objective:
To assess the physical activity level (PAL) and the total daily energy expenditure (EE-TDEE) in a sample of ≥60y subjects from Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Methods:
A convenience sample of 88 subjects recruited from recreational physical activity programs wore an accelerometer around the waist for seven consecutive days for at least 10h/day. Minute-by-minute EE was estimated from the counts per minute (CPM) data, and the daily sum yielded the TDEE. PAL (TDEE/BMR) with BMR calculated with the FAO/WHO predictive equation and a population-specific equation. Body composition was assessed by DXA.
Results:
Mean age (SD) was 69.2 (5.8) years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 36.4 and 25.0%, respectively, and excess body fat was 39.8%. The subjects spent 600min/day engaged in sedentary activities (CPM<100). Men engaged in 30min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (CPM≥1,952) daily, on average. The subjects were active on 34.5 and 18.0% of the weekdays and weekend days with a 1,400 steps/day difference between these days. TDEE was 1,731.5 (348.7) and 1,356.3 (223.7) kcal/day depending on the BMR prediction equation used. Mean PAL was lower than the maintenance level.
Conclusions:
The high prevalence of sedentary activities and the low percentage of subjects who met the physical activity recommendations indicate that physical activity programs must be adjusted so that the enrolled subjects can meet the physical activity recommendations, preferably with the activities objectively monitored. Population-specific equations improve the final estimation of TDEE and PAL. Level of Evidence I; Diagnostic studies - Investigating a diagnostic test.
Keywords:
Energy expenditure; Motor activity; Exercise
