Abstract
B70
Exercise associated energy expenditure (EE) of about 150 to 400 kcal/day has been recommended to prevent chronic diseases. Based on physical activity level (PAL=total energy expenditure (TEE)/basal metabolic rate), recommendations have also been made to achieve a minimum PAL of 1.4. Whether or not Canadians are successful in meeting these target levels of activity and the types of activities that they are participating in to do so, have not been sufficiently described. We estimated EE associated with recreational physical activity reported by normal weight (BMI≥18.5 and <25) Tomorrow Project® participants in Alberta, aged 35 to 69 years, enrolled between 2001 and 2005. Detailed recreational activities at baseline were ascertained using the validated self-administered Past-Year Total Physical Activity Questionnaire. 189 reported recreational activities were grouped into nine categories: walking, bicycling, golf, swimming, fishing, outdoor sports, skill based sports, gym based activity and ‘other’. Total MET-hours/week, from recreational, occupational, transportation and household activity, were calculated to classify men (n=1,376) and women (n=3,741) who reported recreational activity into tertiles of activity: >203 MET-hours/week, >142 and ≤203 MET-hours/week and ≤142 MET-hours/week for men; and >182 MET-hours/week, >129 and ≤182 MET-hours/week and ≤129 MET-hours/week for women. More men participated in walking (60%), outdoor sports (59%) and skill-based sports (37%) than in other activities, while more women participated in walking (81%), gym-based activity (56%) and outdoor sports (49%). In men, means for recreational activity EE ranged from 273 to 442 kcal/day across tertiles of activity and mean PALs ranged from 1.49 (SD=0.12) to 2.24 (SD=0.27). Among women, means for recreational activity EE ranged from 168 to 354 kcal/day across tertiles and means for PAL ranged from 1.50 (SD=0.10) to 2.15 (SD=0.27). Estimated PAL and recreational activity EE indicate normal weight Tomorrow Project® participants who report recreational activity are achieving the minimum recommended levels of physical activity.
Sixth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research-- Dec 5-8, 2007; Philadelphia, PA