Exploring the Need for Functional Clothing to Optimise Metabolic Consumption

Large numbers of people are expending less energy than they consume and consequently, the increasing rates of obesity reflect this lack of energy balance. However, it is difficult to maintain an energy balance in the modern environment where every day, voluntary physical activity is not a given. Purposeful exercise is widely adopted as a method to increase energy expenditure, however, barriers to exercise are experienced by many. Nevertheless, it has been evidenced that clothing can increase metabolic energy consumption. Resistance clothing has been adopted by athletes for training and conditioning purposes to extend the energetic efforts required to perform physical activities during training. Such clothing designs appear worthwhile exploring for the design of everyday clothing and/or exercise clothing, to reclaim the energy expenditures that were once a given through physically active lives. However, no research has been found to explore the potential interest of such clothing for women. This questionnaire study investigated women’s approach to exercise and diet and explored the potential interest of functional clothing to increase metabolic consumption. A total of 502 women completed the questionnaire. The sample included non-exercisers, exercisers, underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese women. The results determined a positive level of interest in functional clothing to optimise metabolic consumption across all BMI classifications. Differences were presented regarding when women would prefer to wear the clothing and what would motivate them to wear it.