Body Weight and the Energy Cost of Activity

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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 W1.0 or W0.75, particularly in light work; however, there remains a challenging percentage of undescribed interindividual variation in the oxygen cost of industrial activities.

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