Reliability of a Multisensor Armband in Estimating Energy Expenditure According to Degree of Obesity

Resting energy expenditure (REE) represents the amount of calories required by the body to maintain vital body functions. One of the most commonly used methods for estimating REE is indirect calorimetry. Recent studies on different populations have validated a highly innovative instrument, the SenseWear® Armband (SWA), which evaluates total energy expenditure and, when used in resting conditions, could also evaluate REE. The purpose of this study was to determine the agreement of the SWA in assessing REE in obese subjects and, see how this agreement varies with different obesity degree. 89 obese subjects (59 women and 30 men), with an age range from 35-65 years and body mass index (BMI) 34.5 4.5 kg/m 2 were studied. REE was measured by IC Sensor Medics Vmax (SM-29N) and by SWA. Fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) was determined by anthropometry and bio-impedance measurements. No statistical difference was found between REE measured by SWA (1693±276) and REE measured by SM-29N (1627±293). The two methods showed similar assessments (r=0.8, p 35 kg/m 2 ), the agreement decreases (r = 0.6 p <0.0001). FFM, measured using different methods, and REE measured using SWA and SM-29N are very closely correlated. The accuracy of the SWA is affected by BMI, in fact it appears to be good in obese subjects with a BMI range of 30 to 35, but this accuracy decreases with higher BMIs (BMI> 35).