Physical Activity Behaviors Contributing to Low and High Activity Levels Measured by Doubly Labeled Water

Purpose To describe the type and intensity of PA which contribute to higher PALs among middle-aged women.

Methods Women consumed DLW on day 0 and returned 1, 7, and 14 days later to provide urine samples for DLW determination of total energy expenditure (TEE).. Women wore the CSA accelerometer (AM7164) and completed seven 24-hour PA recall (24PAR) Interviews during the 14-d period. Women were categorized into quartiles of PAL using predicted resting enemy expenditure (PEE) values (PAL=TEE/REE).. General linear models were used to obtain age-adjusted 24PAR and CSA PA levels across quartiles of PAL and to test for linear trend

Results Eighty women (age: 49 1 [681 yrs; body mass index: 21.0 f4.O] kg/rn2, REE: 1272 [1131 kcal/d, TEE: 2118 [404] Kcal/d, mean [SD]) were evaluated. 24PAR time spent in total, light, and moderate PA increased across the PAL quartiles (PAL 1- PAL4) Table values are mean (SE). Higher levels of inactivity on the 24PAR were associated with lower PAL levels (p = 002). Individual PA domains (household, occupational, leisure) were not associated with PAL. CSA results (n = 73) were consistent with the 24PAR in that activity counts and duration were positively associated with PAL levels (p 002)

Conclusions The present results are consistent with current public health recommendations to reduce inactive time and to increase PA. Results also suggest an important role for lower intensity activities in achieving higher PA expenditure levels