Measuring Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure

This practical manual covers all available methods for assessing energy expenditure and physical activity. It also includes comprehensive references on the topic and highlights areas for future research in measurement methodology. The book is divided into two main sections. The first part introduces the concepts of physical activity and energy expenditure, and provides background material in basic laboratory procedures for their measurement. This section also provides techniques for validating simple, practical field methods, including three physiological procedures for measuring energy expenditure, and two biomechanical methods for measuring physical activity. The second part details specific methods of field measurement, including the doubly-labelled water, observational, diary, and physiologic response methods, questionnaires and interviews, and movement assessment devices. The extensive appendices include a number of questionnaire and interview forms, which represent the most widely used, and adaptable, resources available.