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A Tremblay

Publications and source records attributed to A Tremblay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Adiposity and cardiac dimensions among 9- to 18-year-old youth: the Québec Family Study.

The relationship between adiposity and cardiac dimensions were considered in healthy 9- to 18-year-old boys (n=198) and girls (n=154). Indicators of adiposity included the body mass index (BMI), sum of skinfolds (SSF) and trunk-to-extremity ratio (TER). The following left ventricular (LV) dimensions were measured by echocardiography: internal diameter (LVIDd); posterior wall thickness (PWT) and intraventricular septal wall thickness. LV mass (LVM) was estimated. In boys, 11 of 45 correlations were significant. The magnitude of the correlations increased across age groups and most of the correlations were significant in the oldest age group. In girls, 18 of 45 correlations were significant, but there were inconsistent patterns in the magnitude of the correlations across age groups. Correlations between BMI and LVIDd and LVM were highest in youth 13-15 years, whereas other correlations involving the BMI were rather constant across age groups. Correlations involving SSF were significant only in 9-12 and 13-15 year olds. There were no significant correlations involving TER in female subjects. In the total sample of boys, only correlations between the BMI and LV parameters were significant (r=0.14-0.38), except for the relationship between SSF and PWT (r=0.21). The TER was weakly associated with LV parameters. In the total sample of girls, correlations for LV parameters were significant for both the BMI (r=0.20-0.43) and SSF (r=0.18-0.28; except for LVIDd). TER was not significantly related to LV parameters except LVIDd (r=0.16). The findings indicate that the BMI is an important determinant of LV structure.

Adiposity↗

Hot biopsy forceps in the diagnosis of endobronchial lesions.

Electrocoagulation bronchoscopy biopsy forceps may prevent bleeding, but could also impair the quality of the specimens obtained. Patients with endobronchial lesions during bronchoscopy underwent six endobronchial biopsies each with a hot biopsy forceps, alternating between with electrocoagulation ("hot") and without ("cold"). Bleeding was quantified on a scale of 1-4, with 1 being no bleeding. The generator was set on "soft coagulation" mode, with power settings of 40, 60, 80 and 100 W for each group of 10 patients in a sequential fashion. Clinical pathology results were recorded before samples were reviewed by a second, blinded, pulmonary pathologist. A total of 39 patients with 40 endobronchial lesions had six biopsies performed (one patient had only four samples taken), giving a total of 238 biopsy samples. Concordance between hot and cold samples was 92.5% for the clinical pathologist and 87% for the blinded pathologist. Paired analysis suggested lower average bleeding score with the use of hot forceps. Overall bleeding rates for cold and hot biopsies, respectively, were as follows: grade 1: 30.3 and 41.2%; grade 2: 62.2 and 49.6%; grade 3: 7.6 and 9.2%; and grade 4: 0 and 0%. In conclusion, the use of hot biopsy forceps for endobronchial biopsy does not appear to have a negative impact on the pathological samples. Hot biopsy forceps showed a statistically significant reduction in bleeding score, which is unlikely to be of clinical significance.

Adult↗

The association between low physical fitness and high body mass index or waist circumference is increasing with age in children: the 'Québec en Forme' Project.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate physical fitness and body composition of children involved in the 'Québec en Forme' (QEF) Project and to compare data obtained to the reference values of the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey (CFS). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A total of 1140 children (591 boys and 549 girls) of first (7 years), second (8 years) and fourth (10 years) grade from primary schools in the City of Trois-Rivières (Québec) were selected to participate in this study. MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. The physical fitness tests included standing long jump, 1-min speed sit-ups and speed shuttle run. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight in children ranged between 20 and 30%, which represents a substantial increase compared to the 1981 CFS. The relationship between BMI and WC was highly significant in boys and girls (r=0.90 and 0.86, respectively, P<0.0001). The negative correlations between BMI or WC and the performance in all physical fitness tests were mostly significant in children of both genders (-0.16 < or = r < or = -0.45, at least P<0.05), and these relationships were significantly greater in older children (P<0.05). Based on the 1981 CFS, only 4.7-14.1% of QEF boys still performed in the upper quartile of the distribution (fit boys), whereas 32.1-69% performed not much higher than the lower quartile (unfit boys) for each fitness test. In girls, the relative fitness decrease observed in 2003 was more pronounced since only 1-9.9% of subjects performed in the upper quartile of the distribution compared to 42.8-81.4% who did not perform higher than the lower quartile of the 1981 reference scores of the CFS. CONCLUSION: This study shows that BMI and WC are negatively correlated with physical fitness and that these associations are more pronounced in older children. Furthermore, physical fitness of our cohort, especially in girls, was much lower than what was documented in the 1981 CFS in subjects of the same age. This study thus emphasizes the necessity to develop early interventions to improve physical fitness in children and to prevent the increase of childhood obesity.

Body Composition↗

Reducing weight increases postural stability in obese and morbid obese men.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of weight loss on balance control in obese and morbid obese men. METHODS: In a longitudinal and clinical intervention study, postural stability was measured with a force platform before and after weight loss in men. Weight loss was obtained in obese men (mean body mass index (BMI)=33.0 kg/m(2)) by hypocaloric diet until resistance and in morbid obese men (mean BMI=50.5 kg/m(2)) by bariatric surgery. Morbid obese men were tested before surgery, and 3 and 12 months after surgery when they had lost 20 and nearly 50% of initial body weight, respectively. Normal weight individuals (mean BMI=22.7 kg/m(2)) were tested twice within a 6- to 12-month period to serve as control. Body fatness and fat distribution measures, and posturographic parameters of the center of foot pressure (CP) along the antero-posterior and medio-lateral axes for conditions with and without vision were performed in all subjects. RESULTS: Weight loss averaged 12.3 kg after dieting and 71.3 kg after surgery. Body weight remained unchanged in the control group. After weight loss, nearly all measures of postural stability were improved with and without vision (i.e., CP speed and range in antero-posterior and medio-lateral axes). A strong linear relationship was observed between weight loss and improvement in balance control measured from CP speed (adjusted R (2)=0.65, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Weight loss improves balance control in obese men and the extent of the improvement is directly related to the amount of weight loss. This should decrease the habitual greater risk of falling observed in obese individuals.

Adult↗

Influence of obesity on accurate and rapid arm movement performed from a standing posture.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity yields a decreased postural stability. The potentially negative impact of obesity on the control of upper limb movements, however, has not been documented. This study sought to examine if obesity imposes an additional balance control constraint limiting the speed and accuracy with which an upper limb goal-directed movement performed from an upright standing position can be executed. METHOD: Eight healthy lean subjects (body mass index (BMI) between 20.9 and 25.0 kg/m(2)) and nine healthy obese subjects (BMI between 30.5 and 48.6 kg/m(2)) pointed to a target located in front of them from an upright standing posture. The task was to aim at the target as fast and as precisely as possible after an auditory signal. The difficulty of the task was varied by using different target sizes (0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 cm width). Hand movement time (MT) and velocity profiles were measured to quantify the aiming. Centre of pressure and segmental kinematics were analysed to document postural stability. RESULTS: When aiming, the forward centre of pressure (CP) displacement was greater for the obese group than for the normal BMI group (4.6 and 1.9 cm, respectively). For the obese group, a decrease in the target size was associated with an increase in backward CP displacement and CP peak speed whereas for the normal BMI group backward CP displacements and CP peak speed were about the same across all target sizes. Obese participants aimed at the target moving their whole body forward whereas the normal BMI subjects predominantly made an elbow extension and shoulder flexion. For both groups, MT increased with a decreasing target size. Compare to the normal BMI group, this effect was exacerbated for the obese group. For the two smallest targets, movements were on average 115 and 145 ms slower for the obese than for the normal BMI group suggesting that obesity added a balance constraint and limited the speed with which an accurate movement could be done. SUMMARY: Obesity, because of its effects on the control of balance, also imposes constraints on goal-directed movements. From a clinical perspective, obese individuals might be less efficient and more at risk of injuries than normal weight individuals in a large number of work tasks and daily activities requiring upper limb movements performed from an upright standing position.

Adult↗

Relationship between short sleeping hours and childhood overweight/obesity: results from the 'Québec en Forme' Project.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between short sleep duration and obesity-related variables in children involved in the 'Québec en Forme' Project. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A total of 422 children (211 boys and 211 girls) aged between 5 and 10 years from primary schools in the City of Trois-Rivières (Québec) were selected to participate in this study. MEASUREMENTS: Body weight, height and waist circumference were measured. The children were classified as normal, underweight, overweight or obese, according to body mass index (BMI) per age. An exhaustive questionnaire was administered by telephone to the parents of children. RESULTS: The percentage of overweight/obesity was 20.0% in boys and 24.0% in girls. When compared to children reporting 12-13 h of sleep per day, the adjusted odds ratio for childhood overweight/obesity was 1.42 (95% confidence interval 1.09-1.98) for those with 10.5-11.5 h of sleep and 3.45 (2.61-4.67) for those with 8-10 h of sleep after adjustment for age, sex, and other risk factors. Parental obesity, low parental educational level, low total family income, long hours of TV watching, playing videogames or computer utilization, absence of breastfeeding and physical inactivity were also significantly associated with childhood overweight/obesity. In addition, we observed a significant negative association adjusted for age between sleep duration and body weight (-0.33, P<0.01), BMI (-0.12, P<0.01) and waist circumference (-0.24, P<0.01) in boys. CONCLUSION: An inverse association was observed between sleep duration and the risk to develop childhood overweight/obesity. Longitudinal research will be required to confirm a potential link of causality between these variables.

Anthropometry↗

Greater than predicted decrease in resting energy expenditure with age: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the age-related decrease in resting energy expenditure (REE) is explained by variations in body composition. DESIGN: In Study 1, adult subjects (20-70 years) from the Quebec Family Study were classified into five different age groups. Body composition was measured by hydrodensitometry to determine fat mass and fat-free mass as predictors of REE. In the youngest group of individuals these predictors were used to plot a reference regression that was then used to predict REE in the other age groups. In Study 2, this issue was investigated in a longitudinal design (6-year follow-up). Subjects were subdivided into three groups and a reference regression was plotted at the beginning of the follow-up and was then used to predict REE 6 years later in the three age groups. SUBJECTS: In Study 1, 627 adults (288 men and 339 women), aged between 20 and 70 years. In Study 2, 191 adults (93 men and 98 women). RESULTS: In Study 1, measured REE was 329, 302, 528 and 636 kJ/day (P < 0.0001) below predicted REE at 34, 44, 54 and 64 years, respectively. In Study 2 the most marked deviation from predicted REE in response to the 6-year follow-up in men was observed in young adults (-548 kJ/day, P < 0.001) while in women, the largest deviation occurred later in life (-720 kj/day, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Aging is accompanied by a decrease in REE that is significantly greater than what is predicted by variations in body composition. This decrease may reach a mean level of about 500-800 kj/day.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Polymorphisms in the leptin and leptin receptor genes in relation to resting metabolic rate and respiratory quotient in the Québec Family Study.

BACKGROUND: Leptin (LEP) is an endocrine hormone that participates in many metabolic pathways, including those associated with the central regulation of energy homeostasis. OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations between polymorphisms in the LEP and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes and resting metabolic rate (RMR) and respiratory quotient (RQ) in the Quebec Family Study. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Three polymorphisms in LEPR (K109R, Q223R and K656N) and one in LEP (19A > G) were genotyped in 678 subjects. RMR, RQ at rest and RQ while sitting, standing and walking at 4.5 km/h (RQ45) were adjusted for age, sex, fat mass and fat-free mass. RESULTS: RQ45 was associated with the LEPR-K109R (P = 0.004) and Q223R (P = 0.03) polymorphisms, and RMR showed association with the LEPR-K656N polymorphism (P = 0.006). For the LEP-19A > G polymorphism, no significant associations were observed. However, LEP-A19A homozygotes who were carriers of the LEPR N656 allele had a significantly lower RQ45 compared to other genotype combinations (P for interaction=0.003). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that DNA sequence variation in the LEPR gene contributes to human variation in RMR and in the relative rates of substrate oxidation during low-intensity exercise in steady state but not in a resting state.

Adult↗

Relationship between severity of nocturnal desaturation and adaptive thermogenesis: preliminary data of apneic patients tested in a whole-body indirect calorimetry chamber.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of a relationship between the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and adaptive thermogenesis. Daily energy expenditure (DEE) and sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) were measured in apneic and a priori nonapneic subjects who were tested in a whole-body indirect calorimetry chamber for 24 h. The apneic patients were diagnosed by nocturnal home oximetry to determine the percentage of total recording time spent below 90% arterial oxygen saturation (% TRT <90% SaO(2)). Reference equations established from body weight and age in nonapneic subjects were used to predict DEE and SMR in apneic patients. The predicted values of the apneic patients were then compared to their measured values. No significant difference was found between predicted and measured values in SMR nor in DEE. We observed a significant relationship between the severity of nocturnal desaturation and the difference between predicted and measured DEE in apneic patients (r = -0.74, P < 0.05) and a similar negative trend with SMR (r = -0.65, P = 0.08). These preliminary data suggest that a nocturnal hypoxia may influence adaptive thermogenesis in apneic patients and complicate their body weight regulation.

Adult↗

The Manganese Health Research Program (MHRP): status report and future research needs and directions.

The manganese (Mn) research health program (MHRP) symposium was a full day session at the 22nd International Neurotoxicology Conference. Mn is a critical metal in many defense and defense-related private sector applications including steel making and fabrication, improved fuel efficiency, and welding, and a vital and large component in portable power sources (batteries). At the current time, there is much debate concerning the potential adverse health effects of the use of manganese in these and other applications. Due to the significant use of manganese by the Department of Defense, its contractors and its suppliers, the Manganese Health Research Program (MHRP) seeks to use the resources of the federal government, in tandem with manganese researchers, as well as those industries that are involved with manganese, to determine the exact health effects of manganese, as well as to devise proper safeguard measures for both public and private sector workers. Humans require manganese as an essential element; however, exposure to high levels of this metal is sometimes associated with adverse health effects, most notably within the central nervous system. Exposure scenarios vary extensively in relation to geographical location, urban versus rural environment, lifestyles, diet, and occupational setting. Furthermore, exposure may be brief or chronic, it may be to different types of manganese compounds (aerosols or salts of manganese with different physical and/or chemical properties), and it may occur at different life-stages (e.g., in utero, neonatal life, puberty, adult life, or senescence). These factors along with diverse genetic composition that imposes both a background and disease occurrence likely reflect on differential sensitivity of individuals to manganese exposure. Unraveling these complexities requires a multi-pronged research approach to address multiple questions about the role of manganese as an essential metal as well as its modulation of disease processes and dysfunction. A symposium on the Health Effects of Manganese (Mn) was held on Wednesday, September 14, 1005, to discuss advances in the understanding on role of Mn both in health and disease. The symposium was sponsored by the Manganese Health Research Program (MHRP). This summary provides background on the MHRP, identifies the speakers and topics discussed at the symposium, and identifies research needs and anticipated progress in understanding Mn health- and disease-related issues.

Biomedical Research↗

Influence of intensive fishing on the partitioning of mercury and methylmercury in three lakes of Northern Québec.

It has been demonstrated that intensive fishing, i.e., removing more than 25% of the fish biomass, can reduce mercury levels in predator fish in a lake. We test here the hypothesis that, by removing an important part of the fish biomass from a lake, a significant amount of methylmercury can be eliminated, therefore reducing the mercury available to the remaining biota, at least in the short term. A mass burden approach is used to evaluate the partitioning of total mercury and methylmercury in natural lake ecosystems. Three small natural lakes from the James Bay territory, in northern Québec, Canada, were selected for intensive fishing. Mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were evaluated for sediments, water column (dissolved fraction and suspended particulate matter), plankton, aquatic invertebrates, and fish. Biomasses were determined for fish, plankton, and aquatic invertebrates. Two case scenarios are presented using different mercury contributions from the sediment component (1 cm depth, and no sediment). Our results for the scenario including the sediment contribution show that lake sediments represent over 98% of the total mercury while the biotic components represent less than 0.1% of the same burden. For methylmercury, fish account for up to 5% of the burden, while sediments make up 84.6% to 93.1%. If we put aside the sediment contribution, the methylmercury in fish partitioning can represent up to 48%. As for invertebrates, they can account for up to 48% of the total MeHg burden. We do not observe any change in the partitionings or the quantities of Hg and MeHg before and after fishing in either of the two case scenarios even when we do not take into account dynamics of the ecosystems. This will be all the more the case when the dynamics of the system are included in the analyses. Therefore, biological parameters such as growth rates or fish diet must be considered.

Animals↗

Melanocortin-4 receptor gene and physical activity in the Québec Family Study.

UNLABELLED: Physical inactivity is a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases. Low compliance with interventions to increase activity suggests involvement of biological systems. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether sequence variants in genes encoding neuropeptides and receptors in the arcuate and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus contribute to variations in physical activity level in the Québec Family Study. METHODS: We genotyped polymorphisms in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R), neuropeptide-Y (NPY), neuropeptide-Y Y1 receptor (NPY Y1R), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), agouti-related protein (AGRP), and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) genes in 669 subjects (age (X+/-s.d.): parents: 52+/-3.4 y; offspring: 28+/-8.7 y). Total physical activity, moderate-to-strenuous activity, and inactivity phenotypes were estimated from a three-day record. The past year's physical activity level was assessed from a questionnaire. Associations between the physical activity phenotypes and the polymorphisms were analyzed using the MIXED model (SAS). RESULTS: The MC4R-C-2745T variant showed significant associations with physical activity phenotypes. The lowest moderate-to-strenuous activity scores (P = 0.005) and the highest inactivity scores (P = 0.01) emerged in the T/T genotype. Exclusion of obese subjects increased the association. For inactivity, the association of the MC4R-C-2745T variant was strongest in the offspring (P = 0.002). The T/T offspring had both the highest inactivity score and the lowest body mass index. The CART-A1475G variant modified the associations with MC4R-C-2745T; T/T homozygotes had the lowest activity scores when they also had the A/A CART-A1475G genotype. No significant associations were observed with polymorphisms in the other neuropeptides. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that DNA sequence variation at the MC4R gene locus may contribute to the propensity to be sedentary.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

Aerobic fitness, body mass index, and CVD risk factors among adolescents: the Québec family study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of body mass index (BMI) and aerobic fitness on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adolescents. METHODS: The sample included 416 boys and 345 girls 9-18 y of age from the Québec Family Study. Participants were cross-tabulated into four groups using a median split of age-adjusted physical working capacity (PWC) and body mass index (BMI). Group differences in age-adjusted CVD risk factors (blood pressures, fasting total cholesterol (CHOL), LDL -C, HDL-C, HDL/CHOL, triglycerides, glucose, and a composite risk factor score) were examined by two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Several CVD risk factors showed significant main effects for PWC, BMI and/or the PWC by BMI interaction. In general, low fit males and females had higher blood lipids and glucose compared to their high fit counterparts within BMI categories although none of the differences reached statistical significance. The high fit/low BMI group showed the best CVD risk factor profile while the low fit/high BMI showed a poorer profile as evidenced by several significant differences between these two groups. Other significant differences occurred for various risk factors between groups. CONCLUSION: Both aerobic fitness and BMI show an independent association with CVD risk factors in adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Is the insulin resistance syndrome the price to be paid to achieve body weight stability?

The insulin resistance syndrome represents a metabolic state in which hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance constitute the platform underlying the development of metabolic complications and related diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. As described in this paper, these insulin-related changes are also involved in the regulation of energy balance and contribute to the recovery of body weight stability in a context of long-term positive energy balance. Under conditions of negative energy balance such as obesity treatment, this connection has a high clinical relevance. In this regard, relevant literature as well as the reanalysis of previously published data suggest that the beneficial effect of weight loss on insulin-related changes in glycemia cannot be disassociated from the relationship between changes in plasma insulin and those in resting energy expenditure. In clinical terms, this suggests that the beneficial effect of weight loss on components of the insulin resistance syndrome could be related to the development of a state of physiological vulnerability that complicates the control of body weight. This poses a major challenge to health professionals who then have to manage obesity treatment as the search for a compromise between the beneficial and potentially detrimental effects of weight loss on insulinemia and insulin sensitivity. This also reinforces the relevance to adhere to healthy diet and physical activity habits in order to maintain body weight stability rather than relying on the overuse of regulatory systems soliciting the effects of hyperinsulinemia on the control of energy intake and expenditure.

Energy Metabolism↗

Prevalence of obesity in Canada.

Excess weight represents a critical and common health problem in Canada. The last survey of a national representative sample based on measured anthropometrics has been conducted in 1992. According to surveys using measured data, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index, BMI = 30.0 kg m(-2)) between 1970 and 1992 for those aged 20-69 years increased from 8% to 13% in men and 13% to 15% in women. The proportion of Canadians displaying a BMI > or =25.0 kg m(-2) increased from 47% to 58% in men and from 34% to 41% in women in the same period. The most recent prevalence estimates from self-reported data in a national representative sample indicated that 15% of the adult population (> or =18 years) was affected by obesity, while an additional 33% was classified in the overweight category (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg m(-2)) in 2003. However, it has been suggested that self-reported height and weight underestimate the prevalence of obesity by approximately 10%. Canadian children, aboriginal populations, and immigrants are some of the vulnerable groups particularly at risk of excess weight or for which the increase in the recent decades has been greater than the national increase. The increases in overweight and obesity over the past 30 years among Canadians have been dramatic. It will be possible to precisely analyse the current situation and its evolution in the last 10 years when data based on measured height and weight will be released, that is, in 2005 and after.

Adolescent↗

Two variants in the resistin gene and the response to long-term overfeeding.

OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTS: To investigate the role of resistin gene variants on the adiposity and metabolic changes observed in response to a 100-day overfeeding protocol conducted with 12 pairs of monozygotic twins. MEASUREMENTS: Body-fat measurements included hydrodensitometry and abdominal fat from computed tomography. Plasma glucose and insulin during fasting and in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were assayed. A 4.2 MJ test meal was consumed, after which calorimetric measurements were performed for 240 min. RESULTS: Respiratory quotient (RQ) decreased (P=0.001) more in AA/AG than in GG subjects of the IVS2+181G>A polymorphism after the caloric surplus and the significance persisted when correction for multiple testing was performed. Total abdominal (P=0.027) and visceral (P=0.004) fat increased more in TC than in TT subjects of the IVS2+39C>T polymorphism. In response to overfeeding, glucose area under the curve during the OGTT showed a slight decrease (P=0.031) in the TC while it increased in TT subjects. OGTT insulin area tended to increase less (P=0.055) in TC than in TT subjects. After overfeeding, fasting insulin was lower in TC than in TT subjects (P=0.010). In addition, TC subjects experienced more decrease in RQ than TT subjects (P=0.034). CONCLUSION: The IVS2+181G>A variant was associated with the changes in RQ in response to overfeeding. The IVS2+39C>T polymorphism was associated with overfeeding-induced changes in abdominal visceral fat, OGTT glucose area and RQ. The results suggest that sequence variation in the resistin gene is involved in the adaptation to chronic positive energy balance.

Adipose Tissue↗

Estimation of daily energy needs with the FAO/WHO/UNU 1985 procedures in adults: comparison to whole-body indirect calorimetry measurements.

OBJECTIVES: To measure daily energy expenditure (DEE) with indirect calorimetric facilities in sedentary and active subjects. To estimate daily energy needs with the FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) procedures (EDEE) and estimated energy requirement (EER) with the dietary reference intakes 2002 (DRI) in healthy adults with sedentary or high-activity conditions. To compare estimated daily energy needs with their measured values. DESIGN: Two groups of healthy subjects were tested under sedentary or high-activity conditions. In both groups, resting energy expenditure was measured after a 12-h overnight fast. DEE and basal metabolic rate (BMR) values were also measured with indirect calorimetry and compared to the relevant predicted values. Physical activity level and BMR were also estimated. SUBJECTS: A total of 45 sedentary (26 men and 19 women) and 69 active subjects (43 men and 26 women) aged 18-30 and 30-60 y. RESULTS: Measured daily energy expenditure (MDEE) was significantly lower than EDEE in sedentary men and women and in active men for the two age groups considered (P<0.05). EER was significantly lower than EDEE in both sedentary and active subjects of each subgroup (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) procedures may overestimate daily energy needs, particularly in sedentary individuals. However, DRI (2002) are probably more adapted to estimate real daily energy needs in sedentary and active subjects in comparison to the FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) procedures.

Adolescent↗