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Introduction: Obesity is associated with increased morbidity in patients with advanced liver disease, but it is particularly challenging for these patients to preserve skeletal muscle mass during weight loss and accelerating sarcopenia is a concern. Alternate‐day modified fasting (ADMF) may be particularly effective for weight loss in patients with concomitant cirrhosis and obesity due to preservation of fat‐free mass (FFM). Methods: A weight loss program featuring either ADMF or a continuous low‐calorie diet (LCD) was evaluated in a 24‐week randomized clinical trial in 20 adult patients with Child‐Pugh Class A cirrhosis and obesity. Participants were randomized to either ADMF (n = 11) or LCD (n = 9). Both groups received a remotely delivered exercise program. Body composition, sarcopenia measures, and functional outcomes were assessed pre‐post. Results: Thirteen participants completed the intervention (Age = 57 ± 10; BMI = 37.7 ± 5.8 kg/m2). The median body weight lost in ADMF was 13.7 ± 4.8 kg (13.9% of initial body weight), while LCD lost 9.9 ± 6.9 kg (10.7% of initial body weight). Total body fat percentage decreased in both groups (ADMF: −4.1 ± 4.0%; LCD = −2.8 ± 1.4%). Fat‐free mass accounted for 34 ± 20% of total weight loss in ADMF and 38 ± 10% in LCD. Functional measures, such as timed chair stands, improved in both groups. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of the ADMF and LCD interventions to produce significant weight loss while improving body composition in patients with cirrhosis and obesity. Further research is needed to validate these findings in larger cohorts and to assess changes in muscle quality and visceral fat. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05367596. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purposes of this article are to: (a) describe the rationale and development of the Youth Compendium of Physical Activities (Youth Compendium); and (b) discuss the utility of the Youth Compendium for audiences in research, education, community, health care, public health, and the private sector. Methods: The Youth Compendium provides a list of 196 physical activities (PA) categorized by activity types, specific activities, and metabolic costs (youth metabolic equivalents of task [METy]) as measured by indirect calorimetry. The utility of the Youth Compendium was assessed by describing ways in which it can be used by a variety of audiences. Results: Researchers can use METy values to estimate PA levels and determine changes in PA in intervention studies. Educators can ask students to complete PA records to determine time spent in physical activities and to identify health-enhancing activities for classroom PA breaks. Community leaders, parents, and health care professionals can identify activity types that promote healthful behaviors. Public health agencies can use the METy values for surveillance and as a resource to inform progress toward meeting national physical activity guidelines. Applications for the private sector include the use of METy in PA trackers and other applications. Conclusion: The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research Web site presents the Youth Compendium and related materials to facilitate measurement of the energy cost of nearly 200 physical activities in children and youth. The Youth Compendium provides a way to standardize energy costs in children and youth and has application for a wide variety of audiences. [This article reflects the content of Barbara Ainsworth's 2018 C. H. McCloy Lecture. Additional funding for this project was provided by the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research--a public-private partnership among the the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.]

Background: The 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities provides metabolic equivalent (MET) values for household and eldercare activities (physical activities [PAs]). METs are from published studies, estimated if values are not published, or combined with other PAs with different METs in a single entry. Some PAs are missing from the Compendium. This study measures the energy costs for 15 household and eldercare PAs with estimated METs, PAs in combined entries, and new PAs. Methods: Participants were 30 adults (14 males and 16 females), ages 22–58 years (33.7 [11.2] y). PAs were measured in a laboratory for 8 minutes with a 4-minute rest between PAs. A portable indirect calorimeter measured oxygen uptake (in milliliters per kilogram per minute). Standard METs were computed as activity VO2/3.5 mL·kg−1·min−1. Results: Cooking, meal tasks, laundry, light cleaning, and watering plants ranged from 1.8 to 2.3 METs. Sweeping, walking, and carrying groceries and boxes on the ground and stairs ranged from 3.0 to 5.5 METs. Eldercare ranged from 1.8 to 3.0 METs. Measured METs differed from estimated values by ±0.3 to 2.2 METs. Most measured METs were lower than estimated METs. Conclusion: Updating estimated METs with measured values and separating PAs from combined entries increases the accuracy of household and eldercare PAs presented in the Compendium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home-based video exercise interventions improve older adults' physiological performance and functional capacity. Little is known about the energy costs of video exercises in older adults. The Compendium of Physical Activities (PAs) has few items with PA metabolic equivalents (METs) in older adults. This study measured the energy costs of four chair and two standing exercises (sitting Tai Chi, Yoga, mobility ball, aerobics: standing, slow aerobics, and fast aerobics). Fifteen females and 14 males, 62-87 years (M ± SD, 73 ± 7.7 years), were categorized into three age groups (60-69, 70-79, 80-89). Oxygen uptake (VO2, ml⋅min-1⋅kg-1) and heart rate (HR, b⋅min-1) were measured by indirect calorimetry and heart rate monitor. MET values were calculated as standard- (activity VO2/ 3.5), rounded- (significant digit rounded to 0, 3, 5, 8), and corrected METs (individual resting metabolism). Results showed chair Yoga, Tai Chi, and mobility ball ranged from 2.0 to 2.8 rounded METs (light intensity). Chair- and standing aerobics ranged from 3.0 to 4.3 rounded METs (moderate intensity). Averaged HR ranged from 91.9 ± 12.7 b⋅min-1 to 115.4 ± 19.1 b⋅min-1 for all PAs. Corrected METs were higher than standard METs (P < .05). Standard METs were similar between age groups (P > .05). In conclusion, this study is unique as it measures the energy costs of sitting and standing video exercises that can be performed by older adults at home or in an exercise facility. Knowing the energy costs of PAs for older adults can provide exercises interventions to prevent sedentary lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(7): 1202-1211, 2022. The 2011 Compendium presents MET values for sedentary behaviors (SBs) and light-intensity physical activities (LIPAs). Some entries have estimated METs, others have multiple activities in a single entry, and newer activities are not in the Compendium. Accurate MET values are needed to increase the validity and generalizability of the Compendium. This study measured and analyzed SBs and LIPAs' energy costs in reclining, sitting, standing postures, and fidgeting. Indirect calorimetry measured the energy costs (VO2, ml.kg-1.min-1) in 11 males and seven females (30.7 ± 7.6 y). Two groups of 9 participants each completed 17 randomly assigned activities (9 in group 1; 8 in group 2) for 5 minutes with a 2-minute rest between tasks. Standard METs were calculated as VO2 ml.kg-1.min-1/3.5 ml.kg-1.min-1. Results showed mean MET values for doing nothing (recline: 1.3, sit: 1.3. stand: 1.3); Watching TV on a mobile phone (recline: 1.3, sit: 1.3); Reading (recline; 1.5, sit: 1.0); Writing (recline: 1.5, sit: 1.3, stand: 1.3); Texting or viewing websites on a mobile phone (recline: 1.3, sit: 1.3, stand: 1.3); Fidgeting (sit hands only: 1.5, sit feet only: 1.8, stand hands and feet: 2.0); Typing (stand: 1.3). Measured vs. Compendium METs were the same for five SBs and LIPAs, higher for three SBs and LIPAs (by 0.2 METs), and lower for one SB (by 0.3 METs). In conclusion, the activities ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 METs, categorized as sedentary and light-intensity. Increasing the accuracy of Compendium MET values increases its utility for the correct classification of SB and LIPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study compared the accuracy of physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) prediction using 2 methods of accounting for age dependency versus 1 standard (single) value across all ages. Methods: PAEE estimates were derived by pooling data from 5 studies. Participants, 6-18 years (n = 929), engaged in 14 activities while in a room calorimeter or wearing a portable metabolic analyzer. Linear regression was used to estimate the measurement error in PAEE (expressed as youth metabolic equivalent) associated with using age groups (6-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18 y) and age-in-years [each year of chronological age (eg, 12 = 12.0-12.99 y)] versus the standard (a single value across all ages). Results: Age groups and age-in-years showed similar error, and both showed less error than the standard method for cycling, skilled, and moderate- to vigorous-intensity activities. For sedentary and light activities, the standard had similar error to the other 2 methods. Mean values for root mean square error ranged from 0.2 to 1.7 youth metabolic equivalent across all activities. Error reduction ranged from -0.2% to 21.7% for age groups and -0.23% to 18.2% for age-in-years compared with the standard. Conclusions: Accounting for age showed lower errors than a standard (single) value; using an age-dependent model in the Youth Compendium is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]