Effect of body mass and physical activity volume and intensity on pedometry-measured activity energy expenditure in rural black South Africans in the Limpopo Province

Abstract

Objectives. We developed a novel approach to investigate patterns of pedometry-measured total weekly activity energy expenditure (EE_Act) in rural black South Africans in the Limpopo Province. Design. We analysed 7-day pedometry data in 775 subjects (female: N=508; male: N=267). Variance components models for EEAct were used to estimate the variance explained by body mass (BM), total weekly steps (volume) and estimated intensity (kcal. kg^-1.step^-1). Univariate General Linear Models, adjusting for age, BM and physical activity (PA) volume, were used to determine if EEAct was primarily affected by volume or intensity. Results. BM (13.1%), PA intensity (24.4%) and PA volume (56.9%) explained 94.4% of the variance in EEAct. Adjusted EEAct did not differ between sexes (78 kcal.week^-1, p =0.2552). There were no significant differences across activity categories (sedentary to very active) for adjusted EEAct (62 - 287 kcal.week^-1, p>0.1). Adjusted EEAct for 6 - 7 days of compliance (≥10 000 steps.day^-1) differed significantly from 1 - 2 days of compliance (266 - 419 kcal.week^-1, p<0.04). Obese (body mass index ≥30 kg.m^-2) and normal weight (body mass index 18.5 - 24.9 kg.m^-2) women did not differ significantly across activity categories for EEAct (200 - 592 kcal.week^-1, p>0.30). Conclusions. We have highlighted an intensity effect for days of compliance and at very active ambulatory levels (≥12 500 steps. day^-1). A volume effect appeared to dominate between sexes, across activity categories and weight-by-activity categories. It is important that post hoc statistical adjustments be made for body mass and PA volume when comparing EE_Act across groups.