AUTHOR=Goshozono Mika , Miura Nozomi , Torii Suguru , Taguchi Motoko 

TITLE=Characteristics of non-exercise activity thermogenesis in male collegiate athletes under real-life conditions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1326890

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2024.1326890

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<p>Athletes experience high total energy expenditure; therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of the components contributing to this expenditure. To date, few studies have examined particularly the volume and activity intensity of non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) in athletes compared to non-athletes under real-life conditions. This study aimed to determine the volume and intensity of NEAT in collegiate athletes. Highly trained Japanese male collegiate athletes (<italic>n</italic> = 21) and healthy sedentary male students (<italic>n</italic> = 12) participated in this study. All measurements were obtained during the athletes' regular training season under real-life conditions. NEAT was calculated using metabolic equivalent (MET) data using an accelerometer. The participants were asked to wear a validated triaxial accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Physical activity intensity in NEAT was classified into sedentary (1.0–1.5 METs), light (1.6–2.9 METs), moderate (3.0–5.9 METs), and vigorous (≥6 METs) intensity. NEAT was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes (821 ± 185 kcal/day vs. 643 ± 164 kcal/day, <italic>p</italic> = 0.009). Although there was no significant difference in NEAT values relative to body weight (BW) between the groups (athletes: 10.5 ± 1.7 kcal/kg BW/day, non-athletes: 10.4 ± 2.2 kcal/kg BW/day, <italic>p</italic> = 0.939), NEAT to BW per hour was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes (0.81 ± 0.16 kcal/kg BW/h vs. 0.66 ± 0.12 kcal/kg BW/h, <italic>p</italic> = 0.013). Athletes spent less time in sedentary and light-intensity activities and more time in vigorous-intensity activities than non-athletes (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, <italic>p</italic> = 0.019, and <italic>p</italic> = 0.030, respectively). Athletes expended more energy on vigorous- and moderate-intensity activities than non-athletes (<italic>p </italic>= 0.009 and <italic>p</italic> = 0.011, respectively). This study suggests that athletes' NEAT relative to BW per day is similar to that of non-athletes, but athletes spend less time on NEAT, which makes them more active in their daily lives when not exercising and sleeping.</p>