Meeting Abstract

1.5  Friday, Jan. 4  The contribution of DLW to understanding problems in human nutrition: a comparative perspective SPEAKMAN, J.R.; Rowett Research Institute J.speakman@adbn.ac.uk

The doubly-labeled water method has been a valuable tool to quantify human energy expenditures over a range of daily energy demands. With the increase in a more sedentary lifestyle over the past half century, human daily energy expenditure (DEE) relative to resting metabolic rates (RMR) had become relative modest compared to that of wild animals. Humans are spending a majority of their metabolic expenditure on rest, whereas wild animals spend most of their expenditure on activities. This reduced DEE/RMR relationship for humans is evident in the increase incidence of obesity in Western societies. Described in this talk will be the determinants of human energy flux, the interplay between changes in daily expenditure and levels of nutrition in altering body composition and activity, and the insights gained from animal studies on the human physical condition.