Physical Activity, Fitness and the Energy Cost of Activities: Implications for Obesity in Children and Adolescents in the Tropics - Advances in Food and Nutrition Research - page 80

produced in the estimation of energy cost ( Brage et al., 2004; Corder, Brage,
Wareham, & Ekelund, 2005 ). For a more accurate estimation of EE, the use
of multiple methods simultaneously has been suggested. Studies have shown
that employing multiple accelerometers provides promising data for accu-
rately estimating EE ( Chen et al., 2003; Swartz et al., 2000 ). Eston et al.
(1998) concluded that combined HR monitors and a triaxial accelerometer
slightly improve the estimations of EE for specific activities.
The SenseWear ® Pro 2 Armband (SWA; Body-Media, Inc., Pittsburgh,
PA) and the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity ®
(IDEEA; Minisun LLC, Fresno, CA) are activity monitors with multiple
sensors that can provide accurate assessments of PA intensity and type,
EE, and environmental exposure. The SWA has five different types of
sensors, while the IDEEA uses an array of miniaccelerometers attached to
different parts of the body. The SWA is suitable for estimating EE during
rest, stationary bicycling, motoring and weight-lifting activities among peo-
ple aged 7-65 years old. However, Arvidsson, Slinde, Larsson, and Hulth´n
(2007) reported that the SWA underestimated the energy cost for most
activities, especially for high-intensity activities. In another study,
Arvidsson, Slinde, Larsson, and Hulth´n (2009) concluded that IDEEA
had the best ability to assess energy cost and that SWAs are more feasible
for use in children in free-living conditions. However, these activity mon-
itors had limitations when assessing the energy cost of playing basketball, sta-
tionary bicycling, and jumping on a trampoline ( Arvidsson et al., 2009 ) .
Recently, Whybrow, Ritz, Horgan, and Stubbs (2013) reported that the
IDEEA overestimated EE in both the controlled laboratory and free-living
conditions.
In summary, more effort has to be made in designing and developing
improved models/equipment that are suitable for the estimation of the
energy cost of a wide range of activities in children and adolescents. These
methods would enable us to derive more accurate estimates of energy
requirements and hence the overall energy balance.
5.3. Compilation of energy cost of physical
activities in the tropics
We conducted electronic and manual searches to obtain published data on
the energy costs of physical activities in the tropics. Only studies that
reported measurements of energy costs of physical activities and BMR were
included in this review. Table 2.2 shows a compilation of the energy cost of
activities for boys and girls published after the Torun (1990) publication.