A new handheld device for measuring resting metabolic rate and oxygen consumption.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to test a new handheld device, the BodyGem (HealtheTech Inc., Golden, CO), that measures resting metabolic rate (RMR).


METHODS
Sixty-three adults (43 women, 20 men) (mean+/-SD, age 41.3+/-11.2 years and body mass index, 26.5+/-6.6 kg/m(2)) were tested during two separate sessions within a 2-week period, and, in each session, two BodyGem and two Douglas bag RMR measurements were made in a random and counterbalanced order.


METHODS
Resting oxygen consumption and energy expenditure.


METHODS
A 2 (methods) x 4 (time points) repeated measures ANOVA, Pearson product-moment coefficients, Bland-Altman plots.


RESULTS
Within session reliability for measurement of O(2), consumption was high on both days for the BodyGem (r=0.97). During the 4 single tests, BodyGem and Douglas bag O(2) consumption values were significantly correlated (r=0.81-0.87), with SEEs ranging from 22 to 28 mL. min(-1). Mean O(2) consumption and RMR values for all 4 tests were 241+/-46 and 240+/-45 mL x min(-1) (r=0.91, SEE 18.7 mL x min(-1)) and 1,657+/-324 and 1,650+/-307 kcals x day(-1) (r=0.91, SEE 134 kcals x day(-1)) for the BodyGem and Douglas bag methods, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that the BodyGem is an accurate and reliable device for measuring oxygen consumption and calculating RMR during repeated tests within a day, single tests on separate days, or when measurements are averaged.
Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. niemandc@appstate.edu
David C
DC
Nieman
Gregory A
GA
Trone
Melanie D
MD
Austin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D010100:Oxygen