A new method to estimate energy expenditure from abdominal and rib cage distances

The aim of this paper is to validate a new method of energy expenditure (EE) estimation stemming solely from the measurement of rib cage, abdominal and chest wall distances. We set out to prove that the variations of these distances, measured by two pairs of electromagnetic coils, lead to the estimation of the ventilation (VE) and the EE. Eleven subjects were recruited to take part in this study (27.6 ± 5.4 years; 73.7 ± 9.7 kg). Each subject participated in two tests. The objective of Test 1 was to determine the individual and group equations between the VE and EE during light to moderate activities while Test 2 compared the two pairs of electromagnetic coils with the indirect calorimetry so as to estimate EE in upright sitting and standing positions and during walking exercises. During Test 2, we compared EE measured by indirect calorimetry (EE(IC-Val-REF)) with EE estimated by the two pairs of electromagnetic coils through the application of: (1) the individual equation (EE(mag-Val-INDIV)) and (2) the group equation (EE(mag-val-GROUP)). The results show that there is no significant difference between EE(IC-Val-REF) and EE(mag-Val-INDIV) and between EE(IC-Val-REF) and EE(mag-val-GROUP) for each activity. Furthermore, the mean difference seems to show that the estimation of EE is better with the group equation. In conclusion, on the proven basis of this study we are able to validate this new method which permits the estimation of EE from abdominal and rib cage distances. This study also highlights the advantage of using a group equation to the estimate EE.