Energy Expenditure

Energy expenditure (kcal, kcal/min) is a measure of how much energy is consumed by the body. The higher the exercise intensity, the more energy is consumed. Normal resting energy consumption over one day is on average 1500 kcal. During a moderate-intensity exercise for 30 minutes, approximately 200 kcal of energy is consumed. A very intensive exercise of 45 minutes may consume as much as 700 kcal.

Fat expenditure (kcal) is a measure of the energy consumed by burning fats. Generally, the use of fats in the energy production is greater, in relative terms, during a light intensity, long duration exercise. During a high intensity exercise, the greatest absolute amount of fat is burned.

Energy expenditure calculated from heart beat measurement during moderate exercise. Total energy consumed 660 kcal.

Monitoring energy and fat consumption offers several benefits:

• How much energy is expended during training?
• Training in preparation for long distance events: maximize fat expenditure during training.
• Weight management: Do I expend as much energy as what my energy intake is? How much is my fat expenditure.
• Takes into account both the effect of exercise duration and intensity on metabolism.
• No separate laboratory calibration is required between heart rate and energy expenditure.
• The measure is accurate in all exercise conditions from rest to maximal exercise; studies have indicated that mean absolute error between measured and estimated energy expenditure is 0.5 kcal/min and correlation coefficient is 0.90. Download research papers.

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