Metabolic rate in children and adolescents: Tabulate values for common activities and comparisons with standards and adult values

Abstract

Metabolic rate is one of the important factors determining human thermal comfort. However, in current standards, metabolic rates are based on average values for adults and do not include values for children. Children are in a phase of growth and development, with different body characteristics and composition, and their metabolic rates may differ from those of adults. This can lead to inaccurate estimations of thermal sensation. This study analyzed an open database on children's oxygen consumption during daily activities to determine metabolic heat production and rate for ages 6–18. Age and gender significantly influence the metabolic heat production (W) of children and adolescents. As individuals grow older, their metabolic heat production increases, with boys consistently showing higher values than girls. Using segmented regression analysis, the turning points of metabolic heat production growth in children and adolescents during watching television and walking activities were identified. It was determined that girls reach a stable state earlier than boys. Regarding metabolic rate (W/m2), the impact of gender and age varies across different activities but is generally modest. Males tend to have higher metabolic rates than females, and this difference tends to increase with age and activity. Throughout the entire age range, the metabolic rate remains relatively stable, without any significant inflection point observed. To optimize thermal environment designs in primary and middle schools, standards should focus on children and adolescents' specific metabolic data across genders and ages for common activities. Incorporating these reference values is crucial for designer guidelines and standards.