The use of heart rate monitoring in the estimation of energy expenditure: a validation study using indirect whole-body calorimetry

• Published in: British journal of nutrition 1989-03, Vol.61 (2), p.175-186
• Main Authors: Ceesay, Sana M., Prentice, Andrew M., Day, Kenneth C., Murgatroyd, Peter R., Goldberg, Gail R., Scott, Wendy, Spurr, G. B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; calorimetry; Calorimetry, Indirect; Electrocardiography; energy expenditure; Energy Metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate; Humans; indirect methods; Intermediate and energetic metabolism; Male; Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls; monitoring; Monitoring, Physiologic; Physical Exertion; Predictive Value of Tests; research methods; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1079/BJN19890107

1. A modified heart rate (HR) method for predicting total energy expenditure (TEE) was cross-validated against whole-body calorimetry (CAL). Minute-by-minute HR was converted to energy expenditure (EE) using individual calibration curves when HR exceeded a pre-determined ‘FLEX’ value designed to discriminate periods of activity. (‘FLEX’ HR was defined as the mean of the highest HR during rest and the lowest HR during the lightest imposed exercise.) Sedentary EE (below FLEX) was calculated as the mean EE during lying down, sitting and standing at rest. Sleeping EE was calculated as basal metabolic rate (BMR) predicted from standard equations. 2. Calibration curves of oxygen consumption v. HR for different postures at rest and during exercise were obtained for twenty healthy subjects (eleven male, nine female); mean r 0.941 (SD 0.04). The mean FLEX HR for men and women were 86 (sd 10) and 96 (SD 6) beats/min respectively. 3. Simultaneous measurements of HR and EE were made during 21 h continuous CAL, which included 4 x 30 min imposed exercise (cycling, rowing, stepping, jogging). HR exceeded FLEX for a mean of 98 (SD 41) min. Mean TEE by CAL (TEE. CAL) was 8063 (sd 1445) kJ. 4. The HR method yielded a mean non-significant underestimate in TEE (TEE. HR) of 1.2 (sd 6.2)% (range−11.4 to + 10.6 %). Regression of TEE. HR (y) v. TEE. CAL (X) yielded Y = 0.868 X +927 kJ, r 0.943, se of the estimate 458 kJ, n 20. 5. The satisfactory predictive power and low cost of the method makes it suitable for many field and epidemiological applications.