Open AccessMeasurement of Physical Activity Among Black and White Obese Women
Author(s) -
Kushner Robert F.,
Racette Susan B.,
Neil Karen,
Schoeller Dale A.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
obesity research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8528
pISSN - 1071-7323
DOI - 10.1002/j.1550-8528.1995.tb00472.x
Subject(s) - physical activity , energy expenditure , black women , medicine , doubly labeled water , demography , basal metabolic rate , meal , zoology , gerontology , physical therapy , biology , gender studies , sociology
Several recent self‐reported surveys have suggested that African‐American women may engage in less leisure‐time physical activity (PA) than whites. Objective measurements of PA have not been performed, however. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the components of energy expenditure, including PA, between black and white obese women. Using the doubly labeled water method, total dairy energy expenditure (TDEE), basalmetabolic rate (BMR), thermic effect of a meal (TEM), and PA were measured in 14 black and 15 white moderately obese women over 2 weeks. No statistically significant differences were seen between the 2 groups in BMR, TEM or TDEE. Mean PA was significantly (p=0.05) lower among black women compared to whites when expressed as MJ. d −1 (3.49 vs. 4.30) or kJ.kg −1 .d −1 (37.6 vs. 47.7). Our study supports the survey differences seen in PA among black and white women.