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Validation of a method for estimating energy expenditure during walking in middle-aged adults

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to test the validity of a method using an inertial measurement unit for estimating activity-related energy expenditure (AEE) during walking in middle-aged adults.

Methods

Twenty healthy middle-aged participants completed different treadmill walking trials with an inertial measurement unit adhered to their lower back. Gas exchange was monitored with indirect calorimetry. Mechanical data were used to estimate AEE from an algorithm developed by Bouten et al. (Med Sci Sport Exer 26(12):1516–1523, 1994). Three methods for removing the gravitational component were proposed and tested: mean subtraction method (MSM), high-pass filter method (HPM) and free acceleration method (FAM).

Results

The three methods did not differ significantly from the indirect calorimetry [bias = − 0.08 kcal min−1; p = 0.47 (MSM), bias = − 0.08 kcal min−1; p = 0.48 (HPM) and bias = − 0.15 kcal min−1; p = 0.23 (FAM)]. Mean root mean square errors were 0.43, 0.42 and 0.51 kcal min−1 for MSM, HPM and FAM, respectively.

Conclusion

This study proposed an accurate method for estimating AEE in middle-aged adults for a large range of walking intensities, from slow to brisk walking, based on Bouten’s algorithm.

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Abbreviations

AEE:

Activity-related energy expenditure

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BMI:

Body mass index

CI:

Confidence interval

g:

Gravitational component of acceleration

IMU:

Inertial measurement unit

PA:

Physical activity

RMSE:

Root mean square error

SD:

Standard deviation

O2 :

Rates of oxygen consumption

O2 :

Rate of carbon dioxide production

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Regional Research Grant (grant #D2015033168) from the Réunion Region and from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). The authors wish to express their gratitude to Malo Yasségah for his technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRISSE Laboratory (EA4075), UFR SHE, University of La Réunion, 117 rue du General Ailleret, 97430, Le Tampon, La Réunion, France

    Nathan Caron, Teddy Caderby, Nicolas Peyrot, Chantal Verkindt & Georges Dalleau

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  1. Nathan Caron
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  2. Teddy Caderby
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  3. Nicolas Peyrot
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  4. Chantal Verkindt
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  5. Georges Dalleau
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Correspondence to Georges Dalleau.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors have a professional relationship with companies or manufacturers that might benefit from the results of the present study.

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Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Caron, N., Caderby, T., Peyrot, N. et al. Validation of a method for estimating energy expenditure during walking in middle-aged adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 381–388 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3780-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3780-0

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