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Validation of the BodyGem hand-held calorimeter
E L Melanson1, L B Coelho, Z V Tran
1Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. Ed.melanson@uchsc.edu
Summary
The hand-held BodyGem calorimeter provides valid and reliable resting metabolic rate measurements. Adjusting for the energy cost of holding the device improves accuracy, especially for overweight and obese individuals.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Medical Devices
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Accurate resting metabolic rate (RMR) measurement is crucial for metabolic research and clinical applications.
- Hand-held indirect calorimeters offer potential for portable and accessible RMR assessment.
- Validation against established methods is necessary to confirm the reliability of new devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity and reliability of a hand-held indirect calorimeter (BodyGem) for measuring RMR.
- To compare the BodyGem's RMR measurements with those obtained from a traditional metabolic cart (Sensormedics 2900).
- To assess the accuracy of the BodyGem in overweight and obese individuals compared to predictive equations.
Main Methods:
- Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured on two separate mornings in 41 healthy adults.
- Measurements were taken using both a metabolic cart (Sensormedics 2900) and a hand-held indirect calorimeter (BodyGem).
- The energy cost of holding the hand-held device was quantified and applied as a correction factor.
Main Results:
- No significant trial-to-trial differences were observed for either device.
- The BodyGem initially reported significantly higher RMR values than the Sensormedics 2900.
- After adjusting for the energy cost of holding the device, the differences between the two systems became non-significant.
- The BodyGem demonstrated higher accuracy than the Harris-Benedict equations for estimating RMR in overweight and obese individuals.
Conclusions:
- The hand-held BodyGem indirect calorimeter is a valid and reliable tool for RMR measurement.
- The higher readings initially observed with the BodyGem are attributable to the energy expenditure required to hold the device.
- The BodyGem offers a more accurate assessment of RMR in overweight and obese populations compared to traditional predictive formulas.
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