Energy Expenditures for Activities of Daily Living in Korean Young Adults: A Preliminary Study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the energy expenditure (EE) of Korean young adults based on activities refined to a deskbound lifestyle.


METHODS
Sixty-four healthy office workers aged between 25 and 46 years participated in this study. EE was expressed as metabolic equivalent of task (MET). Participants were evaluated in terms of their EE during physical activities of sleeping (n=22), typing (n=37), folding laundry (n=34), dishwashing (n=32), studying (n=18), mopping (n=35), walking (n=33), stair climbing (n=23), and running (n=29). Volume of oxygen consumption was measured by indirect calorimetry K4b(2) (COSMED). The results were compared to the established Compendium MET.


RESULTS
The MET of activities were: sleeping, 1.24±0.43; typing, 1.35±0.25; folding laundry, 1.58±0.51; dishwashing, 2.20±0.51; studying, 2.11±0.90; mopping, 2.72±0.69; walking at 4 km/hr, 3.48±0.65; stair climbing of five stories, 6.18±1.08; and running at 8 km/hr, 7.57±0.57. The values of typing and mopping were similar to those in the Compendium, whereas those of sleeping, folding laundry, dishwashing, studying, walking, stair climbing and running were different.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this estimation of EE in MET during activities of daily living is the first data of young adults in Korea. These data could be used as a reference to modify the guidelines of physical activities for the age group examined in this study.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.; Rehabilitation and Regeneration Research Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
Kye Hee
0000-0003-3818-9403
KH
Cho
Rehabilitation and Regeneration Research Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
Woojin
0000-0002-0190-2319
W
Song
Rehabilitation and Regeneration Research Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
Jungsoo
0000-0002-3190-1165
J
Kim
Rehabilitation and Regeneration Research Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
Eun Ji
0000-0002-9987-0529
EJ
Jung
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
Joonyoung
0000-0002-4646-6354
J
Jang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.; Rehabilitation and Regeneration Research Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
Sang Hee
0000-0001-5128-5526
SH
Im
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.; Rehabilitation and Regeneration Research Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
MinYoung
0000-0001-5481-2985
M
Kim
Energy expenditure; Indirect calorimetry; Metabolic equivalent; Physical exertion