Energy cost of disco dancing.

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the energy cost of dancing in the conditions that prevail in disco clubs. To avoid any hindrance in the movements of the dancers, oxygen uptake was assessed by retroextrapolating the 02 recovery curve to time zero of recovery. Males and females required a similar energy cost for disco dancing, that is 30.1 ± 10.3 ml 02 · kg-1 · min-1 for a fundamental music rhythm of 135.0 ± 7.7 bpm (X ± SD = for 15 university students). Males, being heavier than females, have a higher absolute energy expenditure (X ± SD = 48.5 ± 15.2 and 31.7 ± 13.7 kj · min-1). Heart rate was 134.5 ± 13.4 bpm. Total energy expenditure for a dancing evening (90 min of active time) was estimated to be 4350 and 2850 kJ for the males and the females respectively. At approximately 60 and 70% [Vdot]O2 max for the males and females respectively, disco dancing could be efficient for improving aerobic fitness and for controlling excess body fat. In this respect, and from the literature, disco da...