Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2026
Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption
Published on: June 20, 2025
Comparison of energy expenditure estimates from doubly labeled water, a physical activity questionnaire, and physical
Joan M Conway1, James L Seale, David R Jacobs
1US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Diet and Human Performance Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. conway@bhnrc.arsusda.gov
Background:
Various methods are used by epidemiologists to estimate the energy cost of physical activity; these include physical activity records and recalls. However, there is limited validation of these methods against the doubly labeled water technique for determining energy expenditure (EE).
Objective:
We compared EE as estimated by indirect methods (physical activity records and recall questionnaires) used in epidemiologic studies with EE obtained from doubly labeled water (EE(DLW)) in free-living men.
Design:
We determined EE(DLW), energy intake at weight maintenance, and EE from 7-d physical activity records (EE(Record)) and a 7-d physical activity recall questionnaire (EE(Recall)) in 24 men aged 41 plus minus 2.0 y ( plus minus SEM) with a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) of 25.1 plus minus 0.5.
Results:
There was excellent agreement between EE(DLW) (13.27 plus minus 0.35 MJ/d) and energy intake (13.19 plus minus 0.36 MJ/d), with a difference of 0.5 plus minus 1.0% ( plus minus SE). The indirect measures of physical activity and EE were 14.17 plus minus 0.37 MJ/d for EE(Record) (difference from EE(DLW): 7.9 plus minus 3.2%) and 17.40 plus minus 1.45 MJ/d for EE(Recall) (difference from EE(DLW): 30.6 plus minus 9.9%).
Conclusions:
Seven-day physical activity records provide an acceptable estimate of EE in free-living adults compared with EE(DLW), but 7-d physical activity recalls have limited application to estimate daily EE. For optimal validity, the 7-d physical activity records require good subject compliance and the provision of careful instructions for their use.
