Abstract
Background/objectivesIn the tropical island of Mauritius, the rise in obesity has accelerated in the past decades, and could be contributed by low physical activity and increased sedentary behavior. The study objectives were to generate the first dataset of total energy expenditure (TEE), to estimate physical activity in Mauritian children, and to explore differences due to gender and ethnicity.Subjects/methodsThe doubly labeled water (DLW) technique was used to evaluate TEE over 14 days in 56 Mauritian school children (aged 7–11 years) belonging to the two main ethnic groups: Indian (South Asian descent) and Creole (African/Malagasy descent). Physical activity level (PAL) was calculated as the ratio of TEE and resting energy expenditure (using Schofield equations), and daily step counts were measured by accelerometry. Anthropometry and body composition were also assessed.ResultsTEE measured by DLW was lower in Mauritian children (by ~155 kcal/d) than that predicted using FAO/WHO/UNU equations for children of the same sex, age, and body size. Furthermore, TEE, as well as PAL and step counts, also differed according to gender (lower in girls than in boys) and to ethnicity (lower in Indians than in Creoles) even after adjusting for differences in body weight and body composition.ConclusionThese results in Mauritian children provide the first dataset of objectively measured TEE, from which physical activity is estimated as PAL, and complemented by step counts measurements. They suggest potential gender and ethnic differences in TEE and physical activity that need consideration in developing strategies to counter sedentary behavior and obesity.
Highlights
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among infants, children, and adolescents has been increasing dramatically worldwide, with the results of comparable survey showing a much more rapid increase in prevalence in several lowincome and middle-income countries [1]
TEE measured by DLW (TEEDLW) is greater than Resting energy expenditure (REE) on average by ~600 kcal/d, and this difference increases with higher body weight
The different slopes for TEEDLW and REE (e.g., 28 kcal/kg vs 19 kcal/kg) are explained, at least in part, by the fact that the energy cost of physical activity is dependent upon body weight
Summary
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among infants, children, and adolescents has been increasing dramatically worldwide, with the results of comparable survey showing a much more rapid increase in prevalence in several lowincome and middle-income countries [1]. In developing strategies to combat excessive adiposity and risks for cardiometabolic diseases, public health organizations will need to target a multitude of dietary and lifestyle factors in order to limit excessive energy intake and promote physical activity and energy expenditure [12,13,14]. In this context, accurate assessment of free-living physical activity and associated energy expenditure is of paramount importance in monitoring the efficacy of lifestyle interventions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
