Body composition is associated with physical activity in daily life as measured using a triaxial accelerometer in both men and women.

M. den Hoed*, K.R. Westerterp

*Corresponding author for this work

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    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Activity-related energy expenditure is the most variable component of total energy expenditure and thus an important determinant of energy balance.Objective:To determine whether body composition is related to physical activity in both men and women. DESIGN: A total of 134 healthy participants were recruited (80 women, 54 men; aged 21+/-2 years; body mass index, 22.0+/-2.4). Physical activity was measured for a period of 2 weeks using a triaxial accelerometer for movement registration (Tracmor). Percentage body fat (%BF) was determined by underwater weighing and deuterium dilution according to Siri's three-compartment model. RESULTS: The participant characteristics-body mass, height and gender together explained a substantial part of the variation in %BF (R(2)=0.75, SEE=4.0%). Adding physical activity to the model increased the explained variation in %BF with 4% (R(2)=0.79, SEE=3.7%, P<0.001). Taking seasonality into account by adding the number of daylight hours as an independent variable further increased the explained variation with 1% (R(2)=0.80, SEE=3.7%, P<0.05). In analogy, the association was evaluated for both genders separately. In women, %BF and physical activity were significantly associated (P<0.001). In men, %BF was only associated with physical activity when seasonality was taken into account as well (P<0.05). This probably resulted from men participating more in season bound sports, because an association was found without adjusting for seasonality when only men with a consistent year-round participation in sports were considered. CONCLUSION: Evidence was found for an association between body composition and physical activity in both genders. A consistent year-round degree of physical activity appears to be a prerequisite to reveal the association. Moreover, Tracmor-assessed physical activity improves the estimate of %BF when a participant's characteristics are taken into account.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1264-1270
    JournalInternational Journal of Obesity
    Volume32
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2008

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