Assessment of energy expenditure and physical activity in eutrophic, overweight or obese school students using Actihearts (TM) monitors

Physical inactivity has been identified as a major cause of overweight and obesity in children. Objective: To determine and compare the intensity of physical activity and energy expenditure in eutrophic (E) and overweight/obese (OW) children. Patients Method: 37 school children 6 to 9 years old, 15 overweight (OW) and 22 eutrophic (E) were studied with Actihearts (TM) monitors. Nutritional status was classified according to body mass index (BMI). Resting metabolic rate (RMR), total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity level (PAL) was calculated. Actihearts (TM) monitors were used to record heart rate (HR), physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), time spent in physical activity (TPA) and accelerometry (AC). Results: OW children reported a RMR = 1,275 kcal/d +/- 164,2; TEE = 2,316 kcal/d +/- 358,7; PAEE = 985 kcal/d +/- 223,1; PAL = 1,82 +/- 0,13; significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those recorded by the eutrophic: RMR = 1066 kcal/d +/- 78,8; TEE = 1821 kcal/d +/- 241,8; PAEE = 713 kcal/d +/- 168,1; PAL = 1,70 +/- 0,12. The TPA and the AC did not show significant difference (p < 0.05) between both groups. Conclusions: This study concluded that OW and E children in the early years in elementary school spend, on average, the same time in physical activity and the same PAEE in activities of moderate to vigorous intensity. Both groups present similar physical activity behavior, which suggests that a hypothesis other than physical inactivity might be looked for regarding the origin of obesity, or perhaps look at origins at an earlier age.