Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The doubly labeled water method for the measurement of average daily metabolic rate (ADMR), combined with a measurement of basal metabolic rate (BMR), permits the calculation of energy expenditure for physical activity. Thus, the relation between physical activity and body composition (%body fat) can be determined. METHOD: We analyzed existing data sets with observations on ADMR, BMR, and %body fat including 290 healthy subjects, age 18–49 y, 146 females and 144 males, from 22 different studies. RESULTS: In a regression analysis, age explained 3–7% and 5–20% of the variation in %body fat in females and males, respectively. Adding physical activity to the model raised the explained variation in %body fat in males (partial r=−0.35, P<0.01). A higher level of physical activity was related to a lower %body fat. In females, there was no relationship between physical activity and body composition (partial r=0.00, n.s.). CONCLUSION: In males, there is a significant inverse cross-sectional relationship between activity energy expenditure and percent body fat, whereas no such relationship was apparent in females.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Westerterp, K., Goran, M. Relationship between physical activity related energy expenditure and body composition: a gender difference. Int J Obes 21, 184–188 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800385
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800385
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
A high sucrose detection threshold is associated with increased energy intake and improved post-prandial glucose response independent of the sweetness intensity of isocaloric sucrose solutions
npj Metabolic Health and Disease (2024)
-
Physical activity, energy expenditure and sedentary parameters in overfeeding studies - a systematic review
BMC Public Health (2018)
-
A comparison of work-related physical activity levels between inpatient and outpatient physical therapists: an observational cohort trial
BMC Research Notes (2016)
-
Relationship Between Diet and Body Composition After Biliopancreatic Diversion
Obesity Surgery (2015)
-
The relationships between body composition and cardiovascular risk factors in young Australian men
Nutrition Journal (2013)