Energy cost of some common physical activities of Chinese schoolboys

14 Chinese schoolboys aged 12-14 years, resident in Singapore coming from affluent homes, were tested for the determination of energy cost, pulmonary ventilation (PV) and oxygen (O2) consumption at rest and during some common physical activities by using a Max-Planck respirometer and Lloyds gas analysis apparatus. The study was undertaken for comparison with the results of a similar investigation of Indian schoolchildren of the same age-group living in a hostel under hostel discipline and diet in Singapore reported earlier. The energy cost (kcal/min, kJ/min) in these Chinese children was found to be significantly higher, but the energy cost per kilogram body weight per hour was found to be significantly lower than in the Indian children. PV in liters per minute was significantly higher in Chinese schoolboys during all physical activities except lying at rest, sitting and running. O2 consumption in liters per minute was also significantly higher during all activities except lying at rest and sitting.