Pregnancy-related changes in total energy expenditure and resting metabolic rate in Switzerland

Melzer, Katarina; Schutz, Yves; Boulvain, Michel; Kayser, Bengt (2009). Pregnancy-related changes in total energy expenditure and resting metabolic rate in Switzerland European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 63(10), pp. 1185-1191. Springer 10.1038/ejcn.2009.49

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Background/objectives: To measure resting metabolic rate (RMR), activity energy expenditure (AEE), total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity pattern, that is, duration and intensity (in metabolic equivalents, METs) of activities performed in late pregnancy compared with postpartum in healthy, well-nourished women living in Switzerland. Subjects/methods: Weight, height, RMR, AEE, TEE and physical activity patterns were measured longitudinally in 27 healthy women aged 23-40 years at 38.2+/-1.5 weeks of gestation and 40.0+/-7.2 weeks postpartum. Results: The RMR during late pregnancy was 7480 kJ per day, that is, 1320+/-760 kJ per day (21.4%) higher than the postpartum RMR (P<0.001). Absolute changes in RMR were positively correlated with the corresponding changes in body weight (r=0.61, P<0.001). RMR per kg body weight was similar in late pregnancy vs postpartum (P=0.28). AEE per kg during pregnancy and postpartum was 40+/-13 and 50+/-20 kJ/kg, respectively (P=0.001). There were significant differences in daily time spent at METs<1.5 (1067 vs 998 min, P=0.045), at 2.5< or =METs <3.0 (58 vs 82 min, P=0.002) and METs> or =6 (1 vs 6 min, P=0.014) during pregnancy and postpartum, respectively. Conclusions: Energy expenditure in healthy women living in Switzerland increases in pregnancy compared with the postpartum state. Additional energy expenditure is primarily attributed to an increase in RMR, which is partly compensated by a decrease in AEE. The decrease in physical activity-related energy costs is achieved by selecting less demanding activities and should be taken into account when defining extra energy requirements for late pregnancy in Switzerland.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	Swiss Federal Institute of Sports Magglingen SFISM > EHSM - Leistungssport
Name:	Melzer, Katarina; Schutz, Yves; Boulvain, Michel and Kayser, Bengt
ISSN:	0954-3007
Publisher:	Springer
Language:	English
Submitter:	Service Account
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2021 11:05
Last Modified:	26 Jan 2024 10:13
Publisher DOI:	10.1038/ejcn.2009.49
Related URLs:	Publication
PubMed ID:	19550432
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Pregnancy Energy expenditure Requirements Physical activity Exercise
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.11170
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/11170