title: Energy expenditure and aging: effects of physical activity.
abstract: Aging is associated with a decline in daily energy expenditure that is disproportionately greater than the decline in daily energy intake. Collectively, these events can create a "positive" energy balance, secondary gains in central and total body fat, and a subsequently higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Participation in regular physical activity is a logical strategy to attenuate the decline in energy expenditure with aging, as physical activity can comprise between 10-50% of an older person's daily energy expenditure. Understanding the influence of regular physical activity on energy expenditure with advancing age is clinically relevant, particularly since estimates predict that nearly 25% of the population will be > or = 65 years of age by the year 2030. This brief review will focus on the current state of aging, energy expenditure, and physical activity literature. Topics to be addressed include: (a) measurement of physical activity in older adults; (b) aging and physical inactivity; and (c) influence of regular aerobic exercise on resting metabolic rate (RMR), thermic effect of food (TEF), and non-exercising physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Starling
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism