Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity in a University Population in the Coastal Region of Ecuador

Damaris Hernández-Gallardo, Ricardo Arencibia-Moreno, Daniel Linares-Girela, Iván Jesús Saca-Plua and Marta Linares-Manrique
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Damaris Hernández-Gallardo: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Laica Eloy Alfaro University of Manabí, Manta 130802, Ecuador
Ricardo Arencibia-Moreno: Faculty of Health Sciences, Technical University of Manabí, Portoviejo 130108, Ecuador
Daniel Linares-Girela: Faculty of Sport Sciences and the Physical Anthropology Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Iván Jesús Saca-Plua: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Laica Eloy Alfaro University of Manabí, Manta 130802, Ecuador
Marta Linares-Manrique: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Melilla Campus, University of Granada, 52071 Granada, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Variations in physical activity greatly affect total energy expenditure, and therefore its examination contributes to the prevention of systemic disease. We sought to evaluate energy expenditure and physical activity within a university population from the coastal region of Ecuador. Methods: A descriptive and observational research study was developed to compare 1038 university students. Weight, height, resting metabolic rate and estimated energy needs were estimated. A 24 h recall questionnaire was administered to examine the relationship between total energy expenditure and physical activity. The “IPAQ” (international physical activity questionnaire) was employed to classify the type of physical activity performed and weekly metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes were calculated. Results: Male and female participants showed total energy expenditures of 2571.26 ± 321.26 and 1924.75 ± 112.78 kcal/day, respectively, with resting metabolic rates of 1864.12 ± 206.67 and 1373.96 ± 178.28 kcal/day, respectively. A total of 81.88% of the population reported being sedentary. With regards to time distribution between activities, insignificant time was dedicated to sport and health-related activities. Weekly MET minute expenditure was classified as low in 45.37% of individuals, moderate in 52.2%, and high in 3% of individuals. Conclusions: We conclude that the studied population led a notably sedentary lifestyle, which was contingent on voluntary behavioural states including the avoidance of certain exercises. Such tendencies are harmful to health.

Keywords: physical activity; total energy expenditure; energy profile; university student; nutritional education; wellbeing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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