Estimating Daily Energy Expenditure in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women Using a Wrist-Worn Accelerometer
Author Information
Author(s): van Hees Vincent T., Renström Frida, Wright Antony, Gradmark Anna, Catt Michael, Chen Kong Y., Löf Marie, Bluck Les, Pomeroy Jeremy, Wareham Nicholas J., Ekelund Ulf, Brage Søren, Franks Paul W.
Primary Institution: Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Hypothesis
Can a wrist-worn accelerometer accurately estimate physical activity energy expenditure in pregnant and non-pregnant women?
Conclusion
A wrist-worn tri-axial accelerometer can significantly predict energy expenditure in non-pregnant women but not in pregnant women.
Supporting Evidence
- A simple summary measure from a wrist-worn accelerometer adds to the prediction of energy expenditure in non-pregnant women.
- Median acceptability scores for wrist and hip placements were both high, indicating good participant tolerance.
- Acceleration explained 24% of the variation in PAEE for non-pregnant women.
Takeaway
This study shows that wearing a special watch can help us understand how much energy women use each day, especially when they are not pregnant.
Methodology
Participants wore a wrist accelerometer for 10 days while total energy expenditure was measured using doubly-labelled water.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to participant acceptability and the non-invasive nature of the accelerometer.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize to all populations, and the accuracy of the wrist accelerometer in pregnant women was not established.
Participant Demographics
Healthy women aged 20-35 years, including 35 pregnant and 73 non-pregnant participants from Sweden.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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