What is Metabolic Testing?
There are various methods of measuring and estimating caloric burn rate energy expenditure. Estimating energy expenditure is usually done using equations. Other estimation techniques may make use of directly measured percent body fat, heart rate, etc. The only methods of directly measuring energy expenditure are doubly labeled water (DLW) and indirect calorimetry (IC).
Indirect calorimetry is the only accurate and clinically feasible method of measuring energy expenditure. It is called “indirect” because the caloric burn rate is calculated from a measurement of oxygen uptake. Direct calorimetry implies a measurement of heat released by the body, which is technically difficult and clinically impractical.
Indirect calorimetry relies on the fact that burning 1 calorie (Kilocalorie) requires 208.06 milliliters of oxygen. Because of this very direct relationship between caloric burn and oxygen consumed, measurements of oxygen uptake (VO2) and caloric burn rate are virtually interchangeable. Oxygen uptake requires a precise measurement of the volume of expired air and of the concentration of oxygen in the expired air.
Why Test Your Metabolism?
Nutrition: A key component of nutritional assessment is determination of daily caloric requirements. Current clinical practice is to use a predictive normal equation for most patients. Use of these equations in many patients amounts to nothing more than a best guess. Guessing caloric needs could be justified when metabolic carts were expensive and difficult to use. Now that indirect calorimetry is available, there is no reason not to measure the resting energy expenditure of every client receiving nutritional care.
Fitness Training:
VO2 is the rate of oxygen uptake, or consumption, measured during exercise. The maximum rate of oxygen uptake is called the VO2max or maximum VO2. VO2max is the ultimate measure of fitness. To achieve a high VO2max, a person must have a fit heart and lungs and significant lean muscle mass that is well conditioned. A VO2 test will also show the anaerobic threshold. The anaerobic threshold is the level of exercise intensity beyond which the body can no longer provide adequate oxygen to the muscles. Exercise below the anaerobic threshold should be comfortable even though the exercise extends for long periods. Exercise above the anaerobic threshold will improve cardiovascular fitness, but will also cause discomfort, fatigue, and muscle soreness.
Knowing the unique anaerobic threshold can be used to design a workout plan that will improve fitness and maximize calories burned. Measurement of VO2max or PeakVO2 will provide a true assessment of fitness level. The VO2 test
will provide all of this data that is vital to proper fitness training. In addition, a VO2 test will also measure how many calories are burned during a workout at every exercise heart rate level. This information, along with a heart rate monitor, or a heart rate equipped bike or treadmill, can be used to calculate the precise amount of calories burned during a workout.
Metabolic Rate Measurements
Metabolic rate, or metabolism, is the rate at which the body expends energy. This is also referred to as the “caloric burn rate”. Knowing metabolic rate is vital for weight loss as well as for determining the proper feeding amounts needed to treat various disease states.
Energy expenditure can be divided into three groups of calories.
Resting Calories – Calories that are burned while the body is at rest. These calories are needed just to maintain life. The majority of all calories burned (about 70-80%) are burned at the resting level.
Activity Calories – Calories that are burned because of normal daily activities are “Activity Calories”. Normal daily activities such as walking, eating (digesting food), typing, etc. are included in activity calories.
Exercise Calories – These calories are burned because of exercise. The sum of all of these groups of calories is the total metabolic rate.
Energy Balance
The body gains or loses fat based on energy balance. Energy balance refers to the relationship between energy intake (eating) and energy expenditure (metabolic rate).
How to Prepare and What to Expect
Testing Includes both Your Resting Metabolic Rate and VO2 Max Testing
Before your testing you will need to fast for 12 hours. Only water and prescription medication
should be taken during your fast. You may want to bring a snack for after your test. You should dress appropriately for exercise activity.
During the resting test you will be sitting in a chair for approximately 20min. You can not sleep or perform any activities that could excite you during the resting test. During the VO2 testing you will be exercising on either a treadmill or bicycle (depending on your preference) for approximately 8-12 minutes.
Both tests require you to wear a ventilation mask which covers your nose and mouth in order to catch all expired air for analysis.
Please have your Medical History Questionnaire completed prior to testing. For a copy of the MHQ contact Kelly or Tyler at:
Tyler@lakesidefitnessstudio.com
Kelly@lakesidefitnessstudio.com
For more information, please visit:
Mobile Metabolics (http://www.mobilemetabolics.com)
Provided By:
Lakeside Fitness LLC