Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by
Jane Hanger
For ISE 4624
Work Physiology
Assignment #1
Instructor: Dr. Michael Agnew
1. INTRODUCTION
Gradual weight gain, through an epidemic of energy imbalance, where energy intake exceeds
energy expenditure, is the predominant reason that most Americans today are overweight or
obese. The obesity population in the United States is growing and the U.S Department of
Agriculture and U.S Department of Health and Human Services recently reported 72 percent of
men and 64 percent of women are overweight or obese, with about one-third of adults being
obese (USDA, 2010). The American culture continues to shift as technology advances creating
an increased sedentary workforce and a time-hungry society that resorts to the convenience of
poor nutrition in fast-food and frozen processed meals while lacking adequate physical activity.
The unbalanced ratio of poor nutritional intake to deficient physical activity not only lead to
weight gain and obesity but according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention have substantially increased morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease,
type 2 diabetes, cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon), hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep
apnea, and a number of other conditions (CDC, 2011).
As the trend of obesity and the gradual weight gain of the American population continue to
increase so do the number of marketed fad diets, supplements, fitness plans, weight-loss
products, and fitness equipment, all claiming to help resolve Americas bad habits. The
macronutrient composure of energy intake, energy density, and proportions of daily
macronutrient intake as well as when, how much, and how frequently to intake throughout the
day have been centralized issues in obesity research and studies for years, with a broad range of
recommendations and conclusions. But despite the innumerous studies and various
recommendations one central concept remains in the understanding and treatment of weight gain
that is the concept of balancing calorie expenditure with calorie intake. The aim of this report is
to provide a critical analysis of a participants logged energy expenditure and dietary intake
levels, including relevant information of the participants physical attributes and physiological
characteristics over the course of 14 consecutive days.
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Participants
The study was conducted using one 25- year old female participant with no known health
concerns or issues. The participants height is 162.56 centimeters and her body weight at the start
of the 14-day monitoring period was 65.32 kilograms.
2.2 Equipment, Apparatus, Questionnaire, or Measurement Instrument
To record the participants daily energy intake a smartphone application, MyFitnessPal, was
used. MyFitnessPal, also has a corresponding website to log and monitor the participants daily
energy intake. The mobile application is equipped with an extensive food and beverage database
with corresponding macronutrient details and variable portions so that the participant could
easily log and track dietary intake. Also the application allowed for the participant to scan
barcodes of consumed items that would automatically load to the log and allow the participant to
adjust the portion size based on consumption, or if the food did not have a recognizable barcode
or place in the database the participant was able to input the food or beverage manually along
with its nutritional values. The participant also used MyFitnessPal to record her daily body
weight, which was measured daily using a simple bathroom scale.
An Excel log for each of the monitored 14 days was created for the participant that broke each
day into 15 minute increments that allowed for relatively precise but simple activity throughout
the course of the day(Appendix A).
The participant also used two different cardio machines at The Weight Club in Blacksburg,
Virginia, the LifeFitness treadmill and the Precor Crossramp, to measure energy expenditure
during her usage. Both machines are equipped with heart rate monitors and required the
participant to enter her body weight, gender, and age prior to recording energy expenditure. The
results of the cardio sessions displayed the time spent, kilocalories expended, average heart rate,
and specifics of the activity such as average resistance, speed, and incline. The participant
recorded the cardio machines feedback via her smartphone camera, creating a photolog of her
gym cardio using these two machines, as shown in Appendix A.
2.3 Procedure
The participants Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) was estimated by two different methods, the
first method used the regression equation, the Harris-Benedict formula, that predicted the RMR
based only on her body mass, height, sex, and age. This calculated RMR value was recorded in
the participants daily activity log, and adjusted accordingly with body mass changes. The
second method of RMR estimation was through a metabolic, oxygen utilization, measurement
system administered by Dr. Michael Agnew. The measured RMR estimation was also recorded
in the participants daily activity log, and was an assumed constant value throughout the 14-day
monitoring period.
Using the tools described in the equipment section the participant recorded all her food and
beverage consumption throughout each day of the 14-day monitoring period. Every morning the
participant, prior to consumption of food or beverage or performing any activity, measured and
recorded her body weight using the same bathroom scale. The participant also thoroughly
recorded daily activities in her excel log, generally labelling the activity based on a correlated
activity description from Appendix B in WCB/McGraw Hills Exercise Physiology that
documents estimated energy expenditure during selected activity (Powers, 2006). The METS for
each activity, which is the standardized unit of energy expenditure, based on the participants
judgement of matching the METS of the generalized activities in Appendix B to her activities
were also recorded in the Excel activity log. Also every day the participant used the treadmill or
Crossramp she used the heart rate monitor and input her gender, age, and body weight. She
recorded the machines output analysis of her energy expenditure numerically in MyFitnessPal
and photographically in a photolog on her smartphone; those values were then recorded in her
activity log. At the end of the 14-day recording period the energy intake logs from MyFitnessPal
were uploaded and the energy intake data for each day was paired to its corresponding excel
energy expenditure data. The cardio energy expenditure photos were also uploaded and placed
accordingly to their daily energy expenditure log.
2.3 Data Analysis
Web options within the participants MyFitnessPal account allowed for a summary report and
descriptive statistics of macronutrients, their proportions, and energy intake over the monitored
period were generated for energy intake analysis. Simple calculations of summations,
differences, the Harris-Benedict RMR estimation, and the percent of intake that is the thermal
effect of food as well as descriptive statistics computed for both recorded RMR methods of
energy expenditure, and energy intake were completed using Excel.
3. RESULTS
Comparing the difference in the participants average daily energy expenditure versus her
average daily energy intake while considering the physical activity level and physiological
characteristics reveals that if all things are held at the monitored averages the energy balance
equation reflects an energy deficit that will lead to a decrease in body mass. Based on the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans definition of a highly active lifestyle, defined as a lifestyle that
includes physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per
hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life as well as
an analysis of the participants activity logs reflects the participant has a high physical activity
level (USDA, 2010) .
The participant experienced an approximate two kilogram loss in body mass over the 14 day
observation period, which can be accounted for based on her lower than average daily energy
intake and high energy expenditure. For both methods of estimated RMR the average daily
expended energy calculated over the two week period is greater than 3000 kilocalories as shown
in Table 1, whereas the average intake was only an approximate 1500 kilocalories, resulting in a
average daily energy deficit greater than 1500 kilocalories (Table 1).
Table 1. Average Daily Energy Intake and Expenditure Values
Average Daily
Input (kcals)
Average Daily
Output:
Measured
(kcals)
Average Daily
Output:
Calculated
(kcals)
Average Daily
E: Measured
(kcals)
Average Daily
E: Measured
(kcals)2
1525.93
3639.41
3317.90
-2113.47
-1791.96
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans a highly active female, within the age range
of 19 to 30, should consume approximately 2400 kilocalories daily to maintain an energy
balance and not experience a weight gain or a loss (USDA, 2010). There was a consistent
imbalance of energy intake versus expenditure that resulted in daily energy deficits for the
participant over the two week period, and the measured RMR average expenditure
approximately 300 kilocalories greater than the calculated RMR average expenditure (Figure 1).
5000.00
4500.00
4000.00
3500.00
3000.00
2500.00
2000.00
1500.00
1000.00
500.00
0.00
Benedict RMR values as well as the trends between average weekly intake, expenditure, and the
difference in energy intake to expenditure are shown over a 52 week period below in Figures 3
and 4.
Figure 3. 52-Week trend of the effects of an initial 20% decrease in energy expenditure on change in body
weight and calculated RMR
Figure 4. 52-Week trend of the effects of an initial 20% decrease in energy expenditure on average
weekly expenditure
10
The nature of these trends over a 52 week period shows that due to the participants initially low caloric
intake and high energy expenditure that with a decrease in average energy expenditure will still permit a
gradual weight loss over the year that begins to stabilize. If the participant had a higher average intake
and still forewent the gym, decreasing her expenditure by 20% the trend would still show an initial
weekly weight loss that in turn would trend towards a slight weight gain if the energy consumed was
greater than what was expended for the week. The full analysis of this scenario is located in Appendix
4. CONCLUSIONS
The 14-day study that recorded a 25 year old females energy intake and expenditure while
taking into account her physical attributes and physiological characteristics reflected the
importance of how this energy balance equation plays an important role in maintaining, losing,
or gaining body weight. A persons RMR, directly related to a persons age, body mass, and
gender, can be calculated using a regression equation using these characteristics, relatively
accurate in a general sense but has weaknesses due to its lack of consideration of a persons body
composition in body fat and muscle mass, aerobic activity level, and resting heart rate and
oxygen utilization levels that all play a significant role in the basic energy demand of an
individual. The measurement of the participants RMR using a metabolic measurement device
recording oxygen utilization while at rest is in theory a much more accurate way to account for
her basic energy demand, assuming the recommended methods and controls are in place. Eating,
consuming caffeine, working out, and smoking prior to the test decrease the accuracy of the
results because oxygen utilization after those activities does not accurately gage a body at rest.
The pipe used to record oxygen utilization was placed firmly at the participants mouth, with the
seal of her hand preventing oxygen escape, also a factor for error in the RMR values. Sources of
weakness in the analyzed energy levels also stem from the participants judgement of recorded
portion sizes of food and beverage when she consumed things that werent in pre-proportioned
packaging and her best approximation of her daily activitys METS given the standard
estimation and description of METS for a set of generalized daily activities.
But with all variances aside the participants high energy expenditure and lower than
recommended energy intake given her age and physical activity level resulted in a net energy
deficit and in turn a documented weight loss. The study aimed to evaluate a well-documented
energy intake and expenditure record over a set period of time and analyze important factors that
11
contribute to the seemingly simple energy balance equation. As the obesity epidemic trends
upward in America the necessity of balanced caloric intake to expenditure is necessary, or more
importantly in order to lose weight an energy deficit must occur from decreased caloric intake,
increased physical activity, or both as shown in the results of the participant. Other important
factors are the nutritional values and macronutrient proportions of dietary intake. Gender, age,
and body mass as well as the muscle mass and aerobic activity levels of individuals play an
important role in determining the basic energy demands through metabolic rate that in turn
determine a proportional response to level of energy expenditure. As American society trends
towards lifestyles that are satisfied by time-hungry conveniences of energy dense and
nutritionally invaluable foods and sedentary activity proportions soar among both children and
adults there is an unquestionable necessity to understand the fundamental relationships in energy
balance and the factors that compose it in order to regain control of the epidemic caused by its
imbalance.
4. REFERENCES
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary
Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office,
December 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Causes and Consequences of Obesity. 2011;
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/index.html. Accessed February 19, 2014.
Powers, S.K. and Howley, E.T. (1996). Exercise Physiology, 3rd edition. WCB/McGraw Hill,
New York, NY.
12
Appendices
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
DATE
ENERGY
INPUT (kcal)
Measured RMR
ENERGY
EXPENDITURE
(kcal)
Calculated RMR
ENERGY
EXPENDITURE
(kcal)
E: Measured
(kcal)
E: Calculated
(kcal)
1/29/2014
1/30/2014
1316.00
1518.00
2960.92
3659.80
2725.99
3359.86
-1644.92
-2141.80
-1409.99
-1841.86
1/31/2014
1903.00
4220.62
3884.36
-2317.62
-1981.36
2/1/2014
2/2/2014
2/3/2014
2/4/2014
2/5/2014
1023.00
2680.00
1155.00
1319.00
1285.00
3588.30
3041.68
3275.74
3885.38
3261.42
3242.46
2766.51
3011.57
3562.49
2984.24
-2565.30
-361.68
-2120.74
-2566.38
-1976.42
-2219.46
-86.51
-1856.57
-2243.49
-1699.24
2/6/2014
2/7/2014
2/8/2014
2/9/2014
2/10/2014
2/11/2014
2/12/2014
1392.00
1679.00
1813.00
1895.00
1389.00
1057.00
1465.00
4022.20
3232.66
4493.86
4110.62
3148.50
3778.62
3910.78
3684.07
2954.64
4042.74
3700.44
2869.97
3428.16
3550.95
-2630.20
-1553.66
-2680.86
-2215.62
-1759.50
-2721.62
-2445.78
-2292.07
-1275.64
-2229.74
-1805.44
-1480.97
-2371.16
-2085.95
Average Daily
Input (kcals)
Average Daily
Output:
Measured (kcals)
Average Daily
Output:
Calculated
(kcals)
Average Daily
E: Measured
(kcals)
Average Daily
E: Measured
(kcals)2
1525.93
3639.41
3317.90
-2113.47
-1791.96
Average Weekly
Input (kcals)
Average Weekly
Output:
Measured (kcals)
Average Weekly
Output:
Calculated
(kcals)
Average Weekly
E: Measured
(kcals)
Average Weekly
E: Measured
(kcals)
10681.53333
25475.84667
23225.28663
-14794.31333
-12543.7533
Macronutrient
Proportions
Week 1
Week2
Average
Carbohydrate
intake %
51%
49%
50%
Fat intake %
27%
28%
27.5%
Protein intake
%
22%
23%
22.50%
23
24
Week
Average
Weekly
Input
(kcals)
AverageWeekly
Output: Calculated
(kcals)
10681.533
23225.28663
Average
Weekly
Average
Body
E:
Weekly BW Weight New RMR
Calculated
(kg)
(kg)
(kcals)
-12543.753 -1.62905887 61.873821 0.988956
10681.533
18378.40367
10681.533
18254.56309
10681.533
15872.89272
10681.533
15728.72133
-5047.188
10681.533
15708.15723
10681.533
15559.34667
10681.533
15548.79749
10681.533
15470.48451
10
10681.533
15393.43157
11
10681.533
15317.61839
12
10681.533
15243.02502
13
10681.533
15169.63184
14
10681.533
15097.41954
15
10681.533
15026.36911
-4344.8358 -0.564264386
16
10681.533
14956.46186
17
10681.533
14887.67941
18
10681.533
14820.00364
19
10681.533
14753.41676
-4071.8834
20
10681.533
14687.90125
21
10681.533
14623.43986
22
10681.533
14560.01564
23
10681.533
14497.6119
24
10681.533
14436.21222
25
10681.533
14375.80044
26
10681.533
14316.36067
27
10681.533
14257.87727
28
10681.533
14200.33485
-3518.8015
29
10681.533
14143.71828
30
10681.533
14088.01265
31
10681.533
14033.20331
32
10681.533
13979.27584
33
10681.533
13926.21604
34
10681.533
13874.00997
35
10681.533
13822.64387
36
10681.533
13772.10424
37
10681.533
13722.37779
38
10681.533
13673.45141
39
10681.533
13625.31225
-2943.7789
40
10681.533
13577.94764
41
10681.533
13531.34511
-2849.8118 -0.370105425
40.62054
0.7256647
42
10681.533
13485.4924
-2803.9591 -0.364150528
40.25639
0.723237
43
10681.533
13440.37745
44
10681.533
13395.98838
-2714.455
45
10681.533
13352.31353
46
10681.533
13309.34139
47
10681.533
13267.06066
-2585.5273
48
10681.533
13225.46022
-2543.9269 -0.330380115
49
10681.533
13184.52912
50
10681.533
13144.25658
51
10681.533
13104.63202
52
10681.533
13065.64502
-3351.67
-0.655478961 58.561036
-0.52881603
-0.45698721
-0.435281815
-0.38230895
-0.35252663
-0.33578277
52.49364
0.845268
0.8048187
50.325922 0.7903673
45.933486 0.7610844
44.60617
0.7522356
41.366803 0.7306398
39.545572 0.7184983
38.521661 0.7116722
38.19128
0.7094696
Week
AverageWeekly Output:
Calculated (kcals)
25
Average Weekly
E: Calculated
(kcals)
Average Weekly
BW (kg)
Body Weight
(kg)
New RMR
=Table18[Average Daily=23229.5510632892*K11
Input (kcals)]*7
=D5-E5
=F5/7700
=L5+G5
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I5
Input (kcals)]*7
=D6-E6
=F6/7700
=H5+G6
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I6
Input (kcals)]*7
=D7-E7
=F7/7700
=H6+G7
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I7
Input (kcals)]*7
=D8-E8
=F8/7700
=H7+G8
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I8
Input (kcals)]*7
=D9-E9
=F9/7700
=H8+G9
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I9
Input (kcals)]*7
=D10-E10
=F10/7700
=H9+G10
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I10
Input (kcals)]*7
=D11-E11
=F11/7700
=H10+G11
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I11
Input (kcals)]*7
=D12-E12
=F12/7700
=H11+G12
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I12
Input (kcals)]*7
=D13-E13
=F13/7700
=H12+G13
10
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I13
Input (kcals)]*7
=D14-E14
=F14/7700
=H13+G14
11
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I14
Input (kcals)]*7
=D15-E15
=F15/7700
=H14+G15
12
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I15
Input (kcals)]*7
=D16-E16
=F16/7700
=H15+G16
13
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I16
Input (kcals)]*7
=D17-E17
=F17/7700
=H16+G17
14
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I17
Input (kcals)]*7
=D18-E18
=F18/7700
=H17+G18
15
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I18
Input (kcals)]*7
=D19-E19
=F19/7700
=H18+G19
16
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I19
Input (kcals)]*7
=D20-E20
=F20/7700
=H19+G20
17
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I20
Input (kcals)]*7
=D21-E21
=F21/7700
=H20+G21
18
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I21
Input (kcals)]*7
=D22-E22
=F22/7700
=H21+G22
19
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I22
Input (kcals)]*7
=D23-E23
=F23/7700
=H22+G23
20
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I23
Input (kcals)]*7
=D24-E24
=F24/7700
=H23+G24
21
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I24
Input (kcals)]*7
=D25-E25
=F25/7700
=H24+G25
22
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I25
Input (kcals)]*7
=D26-E26
=F26/7700
=H25+G26
23
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I26
Input (kcals)]*7
=D27-E27
=F27/7700
=H26+G27
24
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I27
Input (kcals)]*7
=D28-E28
=F28/7700
=H27+G28
25
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I28
Input (kcals)]*7
=D29-E29
=F29/7700
=H28+G29
26
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I29
Input (kcals)]*7
=D30-E30
=F30/7700
=H29+G30
27
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I30
Input (kcals)]*7
=D31-E31
=F31/7700
=H30+G31
28
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I31
Input (kcals)]*7
=D32-E32
=F32/7700
=H31+G32
29
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I32
Input (kcals)]*7
=D33-E33
=F33/7700
=H32+G33
30
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I33
Input (kcals)]*7
=D34-E34
=F34/7700
=H33+G34
31
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I34
Input (kcals)]*7
=D35-E35
=F35/7700
=H34+G35
32
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I35
Input (kcals)]*7
=D36-E36
=F36/7700
=H35+G36
33
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I36
Input (kcals)]*7
=D37-E37
=F37/7700
=H36+G37
34
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I37
Input (kcals)]*7
=D38-E38
=F38/7700
=H37+G38
35
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I38
Input (kcals)]*7
=D39-E39
=F39/7700
=H38+G39
36
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I39
Input (kcals)]*7
=D40-E40
=F40/7700
=H39+G40
37
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I40
Input (kcals)]*7
=D41-E41
=F41/7700
=H40+G41
38
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I41
Input (kcals)]*7
=D42-E42
=F42/7700
=H41+G42
39
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I42
Input (kcals)]*7
=D43-E43
=F43/7700
=H42+G43
40
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I43
Input (kcals)]*7
=D44-E44
=F44/7700
=H43+G44
41
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I44
Input (kcals)]*7
=D45-E45
=F45/7700
=H44+G45
42
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I45
Input (kcals)]*7
=D46-E46
=F46/7700
=H45+G46
43
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I46
Input (kcals)]*7
=D47-E47
=F47/7700
=H46+G47
44
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I47
Input (kcals)]*7
=D48-E48
=F48/7700
=H47+G48
45
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I48
Input (kcals)]*7
=D49-E49
=F49/7700
=H48+G49
46
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I49
Input (kcals)]*7
=D50-E50
=F50/7700
=H49+G50
47
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I50
Input (kcals)]*7
=D51-E51
=F51/7700
=H50+G51
48
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I51
Input (kcals)]*7
=D52-E52
=F52/7700
=H51+G52
49
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I52
Input (kcals)]*7
=D53-E53
=F53/7700
=H52+G53
50
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I53
Input (kcals)]*7
=D54-E54
=F54/7700
=H53+G54
51
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I54
Input (kcals)]*7
=D55-E55
=F55/7700
=H54+G55
52
=Table18[Average Daily=$J$16*I55
Input (kcals)]*7
=D56-E56
=F56/7700
=H55+G56
26
Lbs
My Body Weight:
140
Height:
64
Age:
25
Harris-Benedict RMR:
Measured RMR:
1.12
Inches
Years
kgs
=0.453592*K5
cm
=2.54*K7