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. 2019 Mar;27(3):496-504.
doi: 10.1002/oby.22373.

Physical Activity Energy Expenditure and Total Daily Energy Expenditure in Successful Weight Loss Maintainers

Danielle M Ostendorf  1   2 , Ann E Caldwell  1 , Seth A Creasy  2 , Zhaoxing Pan  3 , Kate Lyden  4 , Audrey Bergouignan  1   2   5   6 , Paul S MacLean  2 , Holly R Wyatt  1 , James O Hill  1 , Edward L Melanson  2   7   8 , Victoria A Catenacci  1   2
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Physical Activity Energy Expenditure and Total Daily Energy Expenditure in Successful Weight Loss Maintainers

Danielle M Ostendorf et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) in successful weight loss maintainers (WLM) with normal weight controls (NC) and controls with overweight/obesity (OC).

Methods: Participants were recruited in three groups: WLM (n = 25, BMI 24.1 ± 2.3 kg/m2 ; maintaining ≥ 13.6-kg weight loss for ≥ 1 year), NC (n = 27, BMI 23.0 ± 2.0 kg/m2 ; similar to current BMI of WLM), and OC (n = 28, BMI 34.3 ± 4.8 kg/m2 ; similar to pre-weight loss BMI of WLM). TDEE was measured using the doubly labeled water method. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured using indirect calorimetry. PAEE was calculated as (TDEE - [0.1 × TDEE] - REE).

Results: PAEE in WLM (812 ± 268 kcal/d, mean ± SD) was significantly higher compared with that in both NC (621 ± 285 kcal/d, P < 0.01) and OC (637 ± 271 kcal/d, P = 0.02). As a result, TDEE in WLM (2,495 ± 366 kcal/d) was higher compared with that in NC (2,195 ± 521 kcal/d, P = 0.01) but was not significantly different from that in OC (2,573 ± 391 kcal/d).

Conclusions: The high levels of PAEE and TDEE observed in individuals maintaining a substantial weight loss (-26.2 ± 9.8 kg maintained for 9.0 ± 10.2 years) suggest that this group relies on high levels of energy expended in physical activity to remain in energy balance (and avoid weight regain) at a reduced body weight.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03422380.

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Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:. Study CONSORT Diagrama
aConsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT); Doubly Labeled Water (DLW); Quality Control (QC).
Figure 2A-C:
Figure 2A-C:. Physical Activity Energy Expenditure (A), Physical Activity Level (B) and Steps (C) across Subject Groupa-b
aComparison of PAEE (A), PAL (B) and steps (C) across subject group. Results from one-way ANOVA and presented as mean±SE. Significant P values (alpha < 0.05) indicated in bold. PAEE analyzed using square root transformation, but untransformed mean±SE presented. PAL, caluclated as TDEE/REE, was analyzed using log (base 10) transformation, but untransformed mean±SE are presented; Weight Loss Maintainers (WLM); Normal Weight Controls (NC); Controls with Overweight/Obesity (OC); Physical Activity Energy Expenditure (PAEE), Physical Activity Level (PAL). bPAL data are as follows: WLM: n = 25, 1.75±0.04; NC: n = 26, 1.61±0.04; OC: n = 25, 1.55±0.04; WLM:NC P = 0.02, WLM:OC P < 0.01; Steps data (count/d) are as follows: WLM: n = 21, 12107±1085; NC: n = 27, 8935±539; OC: n = 20, 6577±385; WLM:NC P < 0.01, WLM:OC P < 0.01.
Figure 3:
Figure 3:. Proportion of Physical Activity Energy Expenditure out of Total Daily Energy Expenditure across Subject Groupa-b
aResults are from one-way ANOVA and presented as untransformed means (kcal/d). Significant P values (alpha < 0.05) indicated in bold. Labels represent the mean proportion of each component out of the mean total daily energy expenditure for each subject group. Weight Loss Maintainers (WLM); Normal Weight Controls (NC); Controls with Overweight/Obesity (OC); Physical Activity Energy Expenditure (PAEE); Resting Energy Expenditure (REE). bMean±SD of PAEE/TDEE (%): WLM 32±7%, NC 27±7%, OC 24±8%; WLM:NC P = 0.02, WLM:OC P < 0.01.
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