Energy Expenditure at

Rest & Physical Activity

 Energy Expenditure at Rest
 Basal Metabolic Rate
 BMR is rate of energy expenditure fasted, rested and
supine conditions in thermoneutral environment.
 Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is rate of energy
expenditure when at rest but not basal (> BMR).
 BMR proportional to BSA, after age 20  2% & 3%
per decade in women and men, respectively
 When RMR expressed per unit LBM, no difference

 BMR represents largest fraction of TEE in sedentary

 Energy Expenditure at Rest
 Influence of Body Size
 Differences in body size usually expressed in
terms of body surface area (BSA).
 From 20-40, average values BMR are 38 kcal/m 2
per hour for men and 36 kcal/m2 for women.
 Lower BMR in women can be attributed to
woman’s larger percent body fat & smaller muscle
mass.
 Energy Expenditure at Rest
 Estimate Resting Daily
Energy Expenditure
 Estimate kcal expenditure
during rest by multiplying
one’s surface area from
nomogram by appropriate
kcal expenditure/m2 per
hour by 24 hrs.
 Also possible to use Harris
Bennedict formulas.
 Estimated values w/i ± 5%
measured values.
 Energy Expenditure at Rest
Components of Total Daily
Energy Expenditure
 Physical Activity: 15-30% of
TDEE
 Dietary Induced
Thermogenesis (~10% TDEE)
 Thermic effect from processes of
digesting, absorbing, &
assimilating nutrients.
 Thermogenesis reaches
maximum w/i 1 hr post
 Thermogenesis can vary 10%-
35% of ingested food energy
 Resting Metabolic Rate
 Energy Expenditure at Rest
 Factors affecting Total
Daily Energy
Expenditure
 Climate.
 RMR of people in
tropic climate averages
5-10% higher.
 RMR in extreme cold
can triple.
 Pregnancy.
 Energy Expenditure in Physical
Activity
 Expression of Energy Expenditure
 Total (gross) – Resting energy expenditure (REE)
= Net energy cost of the activity per se.
 Recovery energy included in Total = exercise
energy + recovery energy.
 Utilization of 1 liter of O2 generates about 5 kcal

of energy.
Net O2 cost of exercise = exercise VO2 +
recovery VO2 – (resting VO2 x time)
 Energy Expenditure in Physical
Activity
 Energy expended during weight-bearing activities increases
proportional to body mass.
 There is little relationship between body mass and energy
expended during non-weight-bearing activities.
Energy Expenditure in Physical Activity
 Average daily Total Energy Expenditure estimated to
be 2900 – 3000 kCal for males, and 2200 kCal for
females 15-50 y.o.a.
 Great variability exists because of one’s physical
activity; average person spends ___% day sedentary.
 Energy Expenditure in Physical
Activity
 Classification of Work Factors:
 Duration (min) and Intensity (VO2 & kCal)
 A MET is a measure of activity intensity & represents an
average person’s resting metabolism or VO2

1 MET =
3.5 mlkg-1min-
1
 Energy Expenditure in Physical
Activity
 Classification of Work
 Intensity of Work often
related to Heart Rate
because of linear
relationship to oxygen
uptake.
 Economy & Efficiency of Energy
Expenditure
 Mechanical Efficiency = Work Output ÷
Energy Input (expenditure).
 Work Output = Force x Distance
 kg  m or ft  lb.
 Three efficiency terms:
1. Gross
2. Net
3. Delta
 Economy & Efficiency of Energy
Expenditure
 Gross efficiency uses total oxygen uptake.
Work Output
Energy Expended
 Net efficiency subtracts resting VO 2 from total.
Work Output
Energy Expended Above Rest
 Delta efficiency computes relative energy cost
of performing an additional increment of work.
 Energy Expenditure during
Walking, Running, and Swimming
 Economy is relationship between
Energy output
Energy input
 Greater economy requires less oxygen uptake
to perform a task.
 Training adjustment that improves economy
directly relates to improved exercise
performance.
 Energy Expenditure during
Walking, Running, and Swimming
 Energy Expenditure during
Walking
 Relationship between
walking speed and oxygen
uptake essentially linear
between speeds of 3.0 and
5.0 kilometers per hour (1.9
to 3.1 mph).
 At faster speeds, walking
becomes less economical
and relationship curves in
upward direction.
 Energy Expenditure during
Walking, Running, and Swimming
 Walking on snow and sand requires about twice the
energy expenditure of walking on hard surfaces.
 Energy cost is proportionally larger for larger people.
 Hand-held weights increases energy cost of walking but
may disproportionately elevate systolic blood pressure.
Energy Expenditure during Running
 More economical to discontinue walking and
begin to run or jog at speeds > 6.5 kmh (4 mph).
 Net energy cost of running a given distance is
independent of speed (pace).
 Lengthening stride above the optimum length
(and reducing stride frequency) increases VO2
more than shortening below optimum (and
increasing stride frequency).
 Cost of running into headwind significantly
greater than the reduction with tailwind.
 Energy Expenditure during
Swimming
 Energy expenditure to swim a given distance is
about 4 times greater than to run same distance.
 Energy must be expended to maintain
buoyancy while generating horizontal motion
and to overcome drag forces.
 Total drag consists of:
 Wave drag
 Skin friction drag

 Viscous pressure drag

 Energy Expenditure during
Swimming
 Elite swimmers expend
fewer calories to swim a
given stroke at any
velocity.
 Women swim a given
distance at lower energy
cost than men because
of greater buoyancy.
 Illustration Reference
 McArdle, William D., Frank I. Katch, and
Victor L. Katch. 2006. Essentials of Exercise
Physiology 3rd ed. Image Collection.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.