Methodology
Development of a Compendium of Energy Expenditures for Youth
1 Centre for the Analysis of Educational Futures, School of Education, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
2 School of Applied Arts and Sciences, Department of Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University, USA
3 Sansom Institute, University of South Australia
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2008, 5:45 doi:10.1186/1479-5868-5-45
Published: 10 September 2008Abstract
Background
This paper presents a Compendium of Energy Expenditures for use in scoring physical activity questionnaires and estimating energy expenditure levels in youth.
Method/Results
Modeled after the adult Compendium of Physical Activities, the Compendium of Energy Expenditures for Youth contains a list of over 200 activities commonly performed by youth and their associated MET intensity levels. A review of existing data collected on the energy cost of youth performing activities was undertaken and incorporated into the compendium. About 35% of the activity MET levels were derived from energy cost data measured in youth and the remaining MET levels estimated from the adult compendium.
Conclusion
The Compendium of Energy Expenditures for Youth is useful to researchers and practitioners interested in identifying physical activity and energy expenditure values in children and adolescents in a variety of settings.
