Physical activity and energy balance

Abstract

Energy expenditure rises above resting energy expenditure when physical activity is performed. The activity-induced energy expenditure varies with the muscle mass involved and the intensity at which the activity is performed: it ranges between 2 and 18 METs approximately. Differences in duration, frequency and intensity of physical activities may create considerable variations in total energy expenditure. The Physical Activity Level (= total energy expenditure divided by resting energy expenditure) varies between 1.2 and 2.2-2.5 in healthy adults. Increases in activity-induced energy expenditure have been shown to result in increases in total energy expenditure, which are usually greater than the increase in activity-induced energy expenditure itself. No evidence for increased spontaneous physical activity, measured by diary, interview or accelerometer, was found. However, this does not exclude increased physical activity that can not be measured by these methods. Part of the difference may also be explained by the post-exercise elevation of metabolic rate.If changes in the level of physical activity affect energy balance, this should result in changes in body mass or body composition. Modest decreases of body mass and fat mass are found in response to increases in physical activity, induced by exercise training, which are usually smaller than predicted from the increase in energy expenditure. This indicates that the training-induced increase in total energy expenditure is at least partly compensated for by an increase in energy intake. There is some evidence that the coupling between energy expenditure and energy intake is less at low levels of physical activity. Increasing the level of physical activity for weight loss may therefore be most effective in the most sedentary individuals. KeywordsExercise Energy expenditure Substrate utilization Body mass Body composition Key messagesX Regular exercise increases total daily energy expenditure. X Energy intake is better balanced to energy expenditure at moderate to high levels of physical activity than at low (or very high) levels of physical activity. X A moderate to high level of physical activity reduces the risk of weight (re)gain and obesity.

The effect of graded levels of exercise on energy intake and balance in free-living men, consuming their normal diet

“…This is the case in the short-term (King et al, 1996(King et al, , 1997aImbeault et al, 1997;Thompson et al, 1988) in the medium term (Woo & Pi-Sunyer, 1985;Flemming et al, 2001). Evidence from longer-term interventions (usually training programmes) and cross-sectional studies suggests that compensation is greater in the longer term (Westerterp, 1998;Van Baak, 1999;Schoeller et al, 1997;Garrow & Summerbell, 1995;Tremblay et al, 1985;Meijer et al, 1991). The ability to tolerate considerable negative energy balances, in the short to medium term, induced by physical activity is by no means ubiquitous.…”

“…The exact manner in which changes in levels of physical activity influence feeding behaviour over periods long enough to affect energy balance (EB) is not clearly understood. There is a large body of literature on the effect of training programmes on body weight and composition in athletes (Van Etten et al, 1997;Westerterp 1998;Van Baak, 1999;Bovens et al, 1993). Several of these studies measure EI (McGowan et al, 1986, Barr & Costill, 1992.…”

Hybrid training of voluntary and electrical muscle contractions reduces steatosis, insulin resistance, and IL-6 levels in patients with NAFLD: a pilot study

“…Mechanisms for exercise-induced improvement of insulin resistance and NAFLD remain unclear; however, exercise itself increases energy expenditures and up-regulates resting energy expenditure through an increase in skeletal muscle mass [15,16]. In addition, skeletal muscle is known as an endocrine organ producing and releasing cytokines in response to muscle contraction [17].…”

Régulation de la balance énergetique : ajustement de l’apport alimentaire à la dépense énergétique

“…Une dépense énergétique accrue due à une activité physique brève ne s'accompagne pas forcément d'une augmentation de l'apport énergétique chez l'individu de corpulence mince et chez l'individu obèse, ce qui se traduit par une diminution de la masse corporelle [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Une étude a montré que la mobilisation des carburants stockés dans le sang joue un rôle dans l'inhibition de la prise alimentaire [4].…”