EXSC 45080 / EXPH 55080 Lab 4

Physiology of Exercise

Aerobic Energy Expenditure

Introduction
Oxygen uptake (VO2) is a form of indirect calorimetry that can estimate the rate of energy
expenditure at various exercise intensities. For each liter of oxygen that is consumed, approximately
5kcals are burned for energy. This can result in some exercise consuming upwards of 15-20kcal per
minute! Typically, load bearing exercise, such as walking or running will have an increased energy
expenditure than a weight supported activity, such as cycling. Moreover, we can see substantial
differences in energy expenditure depending on an individual’s body size.

Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to:
1. Become familiar with indirect calorimetry during exercise.
2. Examine energy expenditure at sub-maximal intensities.

Lab Equipment
1. Parvo Metabolic Cart
2. Mouthpiece and Tubing
3. HR Monitor
4. Monark Ergometer
5. Treadmill
6. Dumbbells
7. Aerobic Steps & Metronome

Lab Procedures
1. Set the participant up for testing
a. VO2 mask
b. Bike set at an appropriate height
2. Have the participant sit on the cycle ergometer for 5 minutes
3. Have the participant pedal against a light resistance (~1kp) for five minutes
4. Have the participant walk/jog on the treadmill at 5mph for 5 minutes
5. Have the participant complete an activity of their choosing for 5 minutes
a. i.e. Jumping Jacks, Aerobic Stepping, Curls, etc.
6. Collect all metabolic data continuously
7. Collect HR and RPE data every minute
8. Repeat these steps for a total of at least three participants (more if time permits) using the same
loads and speeds.
a. Two groups, gone through at least twice
b. Each group should use the arm ergometer once as the activity of their choosing

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EXSC 45080 / EXPH 55080 Lab 4
Physiology of Exercise
Data Reduction (Results)
Calculations
1. Calculate minute averages (average of all measurements between 0-1 minutes; 1-2 minutes,
etc.) for each minute of each activity for both absolute and relative VO2 and RER
2. Estimate the calories consumed during each minute of activity for each activity and participant.
Graphs/Tables
1. Table all of your data at each minute. Create a new table for each variable.
a. Variables should include absolute and relative VO2, RER, kcal/min, HR and RPE
2. On separate line graphs, plot relative VO2, VE, kcal/min and HR (Time on the x-axis can be
continuous for all activities). Put all of your participants in the same graph as separate lines.
a. Place your graphs on top of one another so the time points are alighted going down the
page.
3. Create two scatter plots with HR on the x-axis and relative VO2 (plot 1) and absolute VO2
(plot 2) on the y-axis.
Formulas
Energy Expenditure (kcal/min) = VO2 (L/min) * kcal equivalent (see below; use the closest RER
value)

VO2 (ml/kg/min)

RER Kcal/L O2 %CHO RER Kcal/L O2 %CHO

1.00 5.047 100.0 0.81 4.813 36.9

0.97 5.01 90.4 0.78 4.776 26.3

0.93 4.961 77.4 0.75 4.739 15.6

0.90 4.924 67.5 0.72 4.702 4.8

0.87 4.887 57.5 0.70 4.686 0.0

0.83 4.838 43.8

Questions
1. Based on your RERs, what were the % contributions of fat and CHO?
a. Is this what you would expect?
i. When the participants rested, they had RER values of 0.71, 0.82, and 0.78,
showing CHO values of 0.0, 36.9, and 26.3. These values make sense because
they only sat then, not needing energy from the fat or CHO. Their RER
increased as they started to cycle, except for participants 2 and 3. Their RER

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Physiology of Exercise
values decreased and then increased. Once they started running on the treadmill,
their RER values increased. They had values of .88, 1.01, and 0.85. The values
of CHO% were 57.5, 100, and 43.8. Lastly, the RER was at the highest level
when the participants completed their last exercise. They had values of 1.00,
1.01, and 0.95. Their CHO% levels were at 100 and 90.4
b. Why or why not?
i. This was expected because these exercises lasted more than a few seconds; they
had used their ATP and needed to resort to fat to use as energy. As the exercises
increased in time and intensity, their RER values increased, showing that they
needed the fat source as their energy.
2. Were the energy costs for each activity different between individuals?
a. Is this something you would have expected?
i. This result was anticipated during the study. Multiple factors can impact their
energy costs during the activities. Each participant's HR, VO2, VE, and Kcal
values differed at baseline. As they continued to complete the exercises, their
values stayed relatively similar but were never the same.

b. Why or why not?

i. This was anticipated because multiple factors can impact their VO2, Kcal, VE,
and HR levels. Their daily activity level would impact their results. If one
participant were in shape and worked out consistently, their values would be
lower because they would not have to work as hard with these exercises. On the
other hand, if you had a participant who was not active, their values would be
higher because they would need to work harder to complete the activities.
Another important factor is any health issues that can impact their response to
exercise—for example, asthma. If a participant had asthma, their values could
be different because it would be more difficult for them to breathe during the
exercise.

3. Did the energy cost change for each activity?

a. If it did change, did it change in the direction you would have expected?
i. The energy did change with the different activities the participants completed.
The trend did change in the direction I thought it would change. As the intensity
of the exercise increased, the energy cost would increase.

b. Why or why not? (be sure to address EACH activity)

i. At the start, the participants had to sit. This activity is very low energy, and all
the participants had a lower heart rate, VO2, VE, and Kcal values. As the
participants started cycling, their heart rate, VO2, VE, and Kcal values

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Physiology of Exercise
increased. Around 10 minutes, there was a more significant increase in these
values because the participants began to run on the treadmill. After that, the
participants did lunges, squats, or wall push-ups. The values went down again
because this was a lower-impact activity for the participants, meaning they
required less energy.
4. Did HR and VO2 change in a proportionate fashion (i.e. when one went up, did the other go
up)?
a. Is this a response you would have expected to occur?
i. As heart rate increased or decreased, the VO2 values did the same. At the start
of the activity, the heart rate was at its lowest because the participants sat for it.
The VO2 levels were also at their lowest values. As the participants began to
cycle, both HR and VO2 levels increased. When they started to run, their heart
rate increased significantly, and so did their VO2 levels. When they completed
the last activity of their choice (wall push ups, lunges, and squats), their VO2
and heart rate decreased as this was a less intense exercise for them. The result
is what we expected.

b. Why or why not?

i. We expected this because as we increase our heart rate, our breathing rate will
increase, causing the VO2 levels to increase. If the VO2 levels did not increase
as the heart increased, the participant was not getting the proper oxygen to their
body while exercising.

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Physiology of Exercise

c.

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Physiology of Exercise

d.

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Physiology of Exercise

Participant Participant Participant

5. RER Minute 1 2 3
1 0.71 0.82 0.78
2 0.74 0.88 0.84
3 0.75 1.05 0.74
4 0.88 1.11 0.77
5 0.83 0.74 0.71
6 0.77 0.76 0.68
7 0.64 0.61 0.65
8 0.71 0.66 0.7
9 0.79 0.73 0.76
10 0.93 0.81 0.77
11 0.83 0.83 0.83
12 0.82 0.89 0.73
13 0.84 0.83 0.77
14 0.88 0.92 0.82
15 0.88 1.01 0.85
16 0.88 1.04 0.9
17 0.92 1.15 0.88
18 0.97 1.13 0.94
19 0.97 1.08 0.96
20 1 1.02 0.95
average 10.5 0.837 0.9035 0.8015
a.

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Physiology of Exercise

Participant Participant Participant

Relative Vo2(L/min) Minute 1 2 3
1 0.27 0.4 0.53
2 0.32 0.45 0.29
3 0.38 0.38 0.38
4 0.27 0.27 0.35
5 0.29 0.28 0.41
6 0.53 0.48 0.62
7 0.86 0.86 0.99
8 1.07 0.83 1
9 1.06 1.09 0.98
10 0.68 1.02 1
11 1.11 0.95 1.06
12 2.06 1.24 1.57
13 2.08 1.9 2.35
14 2.27 2.06 2.2
15 2.28 2.14 1.76
16 1.78 1.64 1.53
17 1.57 0.86 1.78
18 1.62 0.65 2.02
19 1.62 0.6 2.01
20 1.67 0.6 1.97
average 10.5 1.1895 0.935 1.24

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Physiology of Exercise

Absolute
VO2(L/m Participant Participant Participant
in) Minute 1 2 3
1 3.698 6.25 6.16
2 4.383 7.03 3.37
3 5.205 5.93 4.418
4 3.698 4.218 4.069
5 3.972 4.375 4.76
6 7.26 7.5 7.209
7 11.78 13.437 11.511
8 14.657 12.96 11.62
9 14.52 17.031 11.39
10 9.315 15.93 11.62
11 15.2 14.84 12.32
12 28.219 19.37 18.255
13 28.493 29.68 27.32
14 31.095 32.1 25.5
15 31.23 33.43 20.46
16 24.383 25.62 17.79
17 21.506 13.43 20.69
18 22.19 10 23.25
19 22.19 9.375 23.37
20 22.87 9.375 22.906
14.868736
average 10.5 16.2932 8 14.3994

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Physiology of Exercise

Participant Participant Participant

Kcal/min Time 1 2 3
1 0.2106 0.2106 0.04435236
2 0.2688 0.5376 0.14450688
3 0.2812 0.8436 0.23722032
4 0.2079 0.8316 0.17288964
5 0.2059 1.0295 0.21197405
6 0.3604 2.1624 0.77932896
7 0.559 3.913 2.187367
8 0.749 5.992 4.488008
9 0.8056 7.2504 5.84092224
10 0.5236 5.236 2.7415696
11 0.9213 10.1343 9.33673059
12 1.5038 18.0456 27.1369733
13 1.6016 20.8208 33.3465933
14 1.8614 26.0596 48.5073394
15 1.938 29.07 56.33766
16 1.602 25.632 41.062464
17 1.3816 23.4872 32.4499155
18 1.5228 27.4104 41.7405571
19 1.5552 29.5488 45.9542938
20 1.5865 31.73 50.339645
average 10.5 0.98231 13.49727 20.1530156

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