title: Net mechanical efficiency during stepping in chronically energy-deficient human subjects.
abstract: Mechanical efficiency during a step test was measured in chronically energy-deficient (CED) individuals and compared to well-nourished subjects using a whole-body indirect calorimeter. The CED group had significantly higher net mechanical efficiencies than the well nourished subjects. This was also evident in the 15% lower energy costs observed in the CED subjects when expressed as a percentage of the predicted data. Factors such as a higher proportion of slow muscle fibres as well as a greater ergonometric efficiency may contribute to the observed higher muscular efficiency aiding conservation of energy expenditure in these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, St John's Medical College, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Shetty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors