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Burn Calories Without Knowing It |
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Friday, 19 May 2006 |
 Recent research conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota found that nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) can prevent weight gain in sedentary adults. NEAT activities include mindless acts such as crossing and uncrossing legs, stretching or standing up often and maintaining good posture. In this small study, 16 sedentary people were fed an additional 1000 calories per day for 2 months. Two thirds of their total daily energy expenditure came from increased NEAT. Researchers suspect that NEAT switches on in some people when they overeat to waste additional energy (calories) that are consumed. On the flip side, an inability to turn on the fidget factor (NEAT) may allow additional calories to be stored as fat.
Three measures contribute to energy expenditure - basal metabolic rate, postprandial thermogenesis (digestion, absorption and food storage) and exercise (sports, physical activities and NEAT). Results of the study found that overall, approximately 330 calories (33% of the additional 1000) were burned up by NEAT. Of the extra remaining calories, about 39% was deposited as fat, 4% was deposited as other body tissue, 8% was burned by BMR, and 14% was used up by postpandrial thermogenesis. The 16 participants gained between 2 to 16 pounds with an average of 10 pounds during the 2 month study. The subjects with the greatest increase in NEAT gained the smallest amount of fat. After consuming a few additional calories, perhaps a little fidget factor is in your future? |
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