Activity energy expenditure and change in body composition in late life - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2009 Nov;90(5):1336-42.

doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27659. Epub 2009 Sep 9.

James E Everhart, Stephen D Anton, Dale A Schoeller, Steve R Cummings, Dawn C Mackey, Matthew J Delmonico, Douglas C Bauer, Eleanor M Simonsick, Lisa H Colbert, Marjolein Visser, Frances Tylavsky, Anne B Newman, Tamara B Harris

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Activity energy expenditure and change in body composition in late life

Todd M Manini et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Change in body composition, specifically loss of fat-free mass and gain in fat mass, in older adults is a major pathway leading to the onset of functional decline and physical disability.

Objective: The objective was to determine the association of activity-related energy expenditure with change in body mass and composition among older men and women.

Design: Total energy expenditure (TEE) was assessed over 2 wk by using the doubly labeled water method in 302 community-dwelling older adults aged 70-82 y. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured by using indirect calorimetry, and the thermic effect of meals was estimated at 10% of TEE. Activity energy expenditure (AEE) was calculated as [TEE(0.9) - RMR]. Total body mass, fat-free mass (FFM), and fat mass (FM) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry annually over a mean (+/-SD) of 4.9 +/- 1.3 y.

Results: In multivariate models adjusted for baseline age, smoking status, and race, men and women had a decline (in kg/y) in body mass (men: -0.34, 95% CI: -0.71, 0.02; women: -0.45, 95% CI: -0.71, -0.19) and FFM (men: -0.48, 95% CI: -0.67, -0.29; women: -0.14, 95% CI: -0.026, -0.03). No changes (in kg/y) were observed in FM (men: 0.14, 95% CI: -0.10, 0.38; women: -0.28, 95% CI: -0.49, -0.07). In men and women, higher AEE at baseline was associated with greater FFM. The average change in these outcomes (ie, slope), however, was similar across tertiles of AEE.

Conclusions: These data suggest that accumulated energy expenditure from all physical activities is associated with greater FFM, but the effect does not alter the trajectory of FFM change in late life.

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Figures

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1

Mean (±SE) longitudinal changes in body composition over an average of 4.9 y of follow-up according to tertiles of activity energy expenditure (AEE) in men and women. Values are predicted from linear mixed models (described in Subjects and Methods) by using Equation 1 (see text). The results suggest that body mass and fat-free mass decline with age, but this change was not predicted by an individual's AEE.

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