title: A new device for measuring resting energy expenditure (REE) in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lifestyle change targeted towards increasing daily resting energy expenditure (REE) is one of the cornerstones of obesity treatment. Measurements of energy expenditure and substrate utilization are essential to understanding the metabolic basis of obesity, and the physiological responses to perturbations in habitual food intake. REE is the largest part of human energy expenditure (60-70%) and an increase or decrease in REE would have a large impact on total energy. Accurate and easy-to-use methods for measuring REE are needed, to be applied by clinicians in daily clinical settings to assess the validity of a new instrument to estimate REE in normal weight, healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine subjects (52 females and 47 males) (mean+/-SD, age 38+/-14 years; body mass index (BMI) 23+/-3 kg/m(2)) were tested. REE was assessed using a Sensor Medics Vmax metabolic cart with a ventilated canopy and with the SenseWear armband. Body composition, percentage fat mass (%FM) and percentage fat free mass (%FFM) were assessed by skinfold thickness measurements (SF), bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) and air displacement plethysmography (BOD-POD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found among measurements of FFM using the three different techniques. Both SenseWear and Sensor Medics Vmax showed a high correlation, r=0.42 and r=0.40 (p<0.0001) respectively, with BMI. No significant difference was found in mean REE between SenseWear (1540+/-280 kcal/day) and Sensor Medics Vmax (1700+/-330 kcal/day) (p=ns) and the correlation between REE measured by SenseWear and Sensor Medics Vmax was high (r=0.86, p<0.0001). Bland-Altman plot showed no difference in REE determination between SenseWear and Sensor Medics Vmax. %FFM determined by BOD-POD correlated with SenseWear (r=0.42, p<0.0001) as well as Sensor Medics Vmax (r=0.38, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SF, BIA and BOD-POD provide valid and reliable measurements of FFM. Our results suggest that the SenseWear armband is an acceptable device to accurately measure REE in healthy subjects. Its characteristics have the potential to reduce measurement times and make the SenseWear armband useful for epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Applied Dietetic Technical Sciences, Modena and Reggio Emilia University, Modena, Italy. mmalavolti@unimore.it <mmalavolti@unimore.it>
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malavolti
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietrobelli
authors.forename: Manfredo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dugoni
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Cristofaro
authors.forename: Nino C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Battistini
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D010991:Plethysmography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012885:Skinfold Thickness