Active metabolic weight estimation using bioimpedance, indirect calorimetry and the clino-ortho maneuver

The resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate utilization are computed by indirect calorimetry technique (ICT). The REE represents 80-85% of the total energy expenditure (TEE) but only accounts for the 7% of the actual body weight (ABW). The TEE is produced by the organs plus muscles, whereas the REE accounts only for the main organs. An important problem comes up when the REE is computed throughout the fat free mass (FFM) computation or anthropometric measurements because they do not explain the tremendous catabolic variability by ICT when subjects show the same body composition. Therefore, the aim of this work is to develop a method to compute the metabolic active weight (MAW) as a new form that may help to understand the catabolic activity of the body composition. The premise was the clino-ortho maneuver can split the ABW in two parts: one in which the MAW reflects the FFM catabolism while the second part was not considered since there is not energy requirement in it. The experiment design studied 37 young volunteers undergoing the clino-ortho maneuver during fast and postprandial conditions. The results showed REE increments of 21% during phase I (fast), while in phase II (postprandial) only 14% was achieved in ortho-postprandial. Therefore, the computed MAWs were 65.5 Kg and 58 Kg, respectively, when the ABW average was 70 Kg and the FFM was 50 Kg. One first conclusion was that the 15.5 Kg of the MAW above the FFM could explain a catabolic equivalence which can be exclusively related to the fast-ortho position which can help to classify exclusively the dynamic over activity of the FFM.