MEASUREMENT OF TOTAL ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN JAPANESE FIREFIGHTERS UNDER NORMAL WORKING CONDITION USING THE DOUBLY LABELED WATER METHOD / 体力科学

ABSTRACT

This study examined total energy expenditure (TEE) of Japanese firefighters under normal working conditions, and also evaluated several field methods for measuring TEE in comparison with the doubly labeled water (DLW) method. Ten male subjects belonging to Tokyo metropolitan firefighters departments, aged 30.0±2.8 yrs (mean±SD), were monitored for five consecutive days. While TEE was assessed by an accelerometer (AC) and activity records (AR) in additoin to DLW, energy intake (El) was evaluated by dietary record. There were three emergency calls over the assessment period, but no real operation of fire suppression. TEE obtained by the DLW method (4009±611 kcal/d) was significantly higher than that estimated by AC (2531±186 kcal/d) or AR (3704±476kcal/d) ; but significantly correlated with AR (r=0.876, p<0.01) . El (3539±286 kcal/d) showed no significant relationship with DLW. These results suggest that compared with AC, AR would be more feasible for estimating TEE of firefighters, who perform special activities carrying heavy equipment. The mean value of physical activity level (PAL) (2.2±0.3) indicates that firefighters can be categorized as heavy workers like soldiers or policemen.