Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2014; 122 - P054
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1372071

How do our patients try to loose weight? Changes in activity thermogenesis and physical activity patterns in obese subjects intending weight loss

U Elbelt 1, T Schuetz 2, N Knoll 3, S Burkert 3
  • 1Charié Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Berlin, Germany
  • 2Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Adiposity Diseases, Bariatric Surgery, Leipzig, Germany
  • 3Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany

Background and aims: Reduced physical activity and almost unlimited availability of food are major contributors to the development of obesity in affluent societies. With the decline of strenuous work energy expenditure due to spontaneous physical activity attracts increasing attention. Our primary aim was the objective assessment of changes of body weight-adjusted activity thermogenesis (AT) and physical activity patterns in obese subjects intending weight loss.

Methods: Components of body weight-adjusted AT (non-exercise AT, exercise-related AT) and physical activity patterns (number of daily steps, metabolic equivalents, duration of exercise-related AT) of 160 outpatients (126 women, 34 men; age 41 ± 14 years, BMI 43.3 ± 8.3 kg/m2) intending weight loss were continuously assessed for three days (preferably two weekdays and one weekend day) with a portable armband device (SenseWearTM armband) at baseline and after 6 months. Longitudinal data could be obtained for 85 patients.

Results: In addition to patients with weight maintenance (n = 62), also patients with relevant weight loss (> 5% body weight, n = 17), and patients with relevant weight gain (> 5% body weight, n = 6) did not show significant changes of body weight-adjusted AT or patterns of physical activity (see Table 1).

Tab. 1

Δ: difference t3 [6 months follow-up] – t1 [baseline]; NEAT: non-exercise activity thermogenesis; EAT: exercise-related activity thermogenesis; MET: metabolic equivalent

a ANOVA

b median and quartiles are given for non-parametric data

c Kruskal-Wallis-test

Patients with weight loss (n = 17)

Patients with weight maintenance (n = 62)

Patients with weight gain (n = 6)

P value

Δ body weight-adjusted NEAT (kcal/kg/d)

-0.5 ± 2.8

-0.2 ± 3.0

-1.0 ± 2.3

0.762 a

Δ body weight-adjusted EAT (kcal/kg/d)

-0.1 (-2.0/0.7)d

-0.2 (-0.8/0.6)d

-0.3 (-2.9/0.7)d

0.764 c

Δ number of daily steps

-179 ± 3333

-15 ± 3553

-1544 ± 3457

0.596 a

Δ mean MET

0.0 (-0.1/0.1)d

0.0 (-0.1/0.1)d

-0.1 (-0.2/0.0)d

0.406 c

Δ duration of EAT (min/d)

-1 (-21/9)d

-2 (-7/5)d

-4 (-21/11)d

0.863 c

Conclusions: Significant changes of body weight-adjusted AT or patterns of physical activity are not employed to achieve weight loss in obese subjects.