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Clinical Trial
. 2013;8(3):e59641.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059641. Epub 2013 Mar 21.

Weight-loss induced changes in physical activity and activity energy expenditure in overweight and obese subjects before and after energy restriction

Alberto G Bonomi  1 , Stijn Soenen, Annelies H C Goris, Klaas R Westerterp
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Weight-loss induced changes in physical activity and activity energy expenditure in overweight and obese subjects before and after energy restriction

Alberto G Bonomi et al. PLoS One. 2013.

Abstract

Activity energy expenditure (AEE) is the component of daily energy expenditure that is mainly influenced by the amount of physical activity (PA) and by the weight of the body displaced. This study aimed at analyzing the effect of weight loss on PA and AEE. The body weight and PA of 66 overweight and obese subjects were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of 67% energy restriction. PA was measured using a tri-axial accelerometer for movement registration (Tracmor) and quantified in activity counts. Tracmor recordings were also processed using a classification algorithm to recognize 6 common activity types engaged in during the day. A doubly-labeled water validated equation based on Tracmor output was used to estimate AEE. After weight loss, body weight decreased by 13±4%, daily activity counts augmented by 9% (95% CI: +2%, +15%), and this increase was weakly associated with the decrease in body weight (R(2) = 7%; P<0.05). After weight loss subjects were significantly (P<0.05) less sedentary (-26 min/d), and increased the time spent walking (+11 min/d) and bicycling (+4 min/d). However, AEE decreased by 0.6±0.4 MJ/d after weight loss. On average, a 2-hour/day reduction of sedentary time by increasing ambulatory and generic activities was required to restore baseline levels of AEE. In conclusion, after weight loss PA increased but the related metabolic demand did not offset the reduction in AEE due to the lower body weight. Promoting physical activity according to the extent of weight loss might increase successfulness of weight maintenance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: Alberto G. Bonomi is employed at Personal Health Solutions department, Philips Research, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Annelies H. C. Goris is employed at DirectLife, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The activity monitor system used in the presented study are research prototypes and are not commercially available. No further competing interests exist. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors’ adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Acceleration signal measured using the tri-axial accelerometer during standardized activities and used to develop the classification tree.
The signal represents the antero-posterior acceleration of the body during different activities and postures.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Association between the change in body movement and the change in body weight.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Duration of the types of activity performed at baseline and after weight loss.
Sit-stand; daily duration of sitting and standing still. AS; daily duration of actively standing. (*) or (**); significant difference between baseline and after weight loss (P<0.05 or P<0.001).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Contribution of the change in body weight (BW) and the change in physical activity (PA) to the change in activity energy expenditure (AEE).
(*) or (**); significant difference from zero (P<0.05 or P<0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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