Body Weight and the Energy Cost of Activity

Abstract

The effect of body weight (W) upon the oxygen cost of activity ([vdot]o₂) is analyzed with respect to the authors’ data on stepping and bicycle ergometry, and Brown’s results for five industrial activities. Net oxygen consumption is proportional to Wⁿ, where n = 0 for activities with little body movement and 1.0 for activities with substantial body movement; the oxygen cost of unit work is also increased by inexperience and obesity. The new method for the standardization of energy costs is somewhat superior to the adjustment of gross [vdot]o₂ by W^1.0 or W^0.75, particularly in light work; however, there remains a challenging percentage of undescribed interindividual variation in the oxygen cost of industrial activities.