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Energy Expenditure of Adolescents During Overground Walking and Running

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine the net energy expenditure (EENET) required for overground walking and running 1200 m in a sample of healthy adolescent boys and girls. A secondary purpose was to describe the effect of body composition on energy expenditure (EE) of walking versus running. Twenty healthy adolescents (9 boys, 11 girls) aged 15.85 ± 2.80 years performed 2 field tests in regular outdoor conditions: overground walking (1.64 ± 0.17 m/s) and submaximal running (3.13 ± 0.42 m/s), at a self-selected steady pace. EE was measured via indirect calorimetry. Paired sample t-tests were used to determine if there were differences between walking and running conditions and mean percentage differences were estimated for various physiological parameters. Differences in EENET between conditions were performed for both genders using a two (condition) by two (gender) analysis of variance repeated measures design, with fat free mass as a covariate. Speed increased by 90.43% between the 2 conditions, while the different components of EE increased by almost 20%. Running elicited a significantly greater EENET than walking for both genders; however, boys’ and girls’ EE did not differ significantly. When EENET was adjusted for fat free mass, there was a statistically significant condition × fat free mass effect. The findings in this study indicate that both adolescent boys and girls expend more energy during running than walking, without being affected by body composition. Body mass and fat free mass significantly correlated with EE only during running. In addition, the trained participants of the study optimized locomotion to minimize EE.

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Availability of Data and Materials

Due to the small sample size and potentially identifiable markers, the data will not be made available.

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Notes

  1. According to the American College of Sports Medicine [2], speed between 6 and 8 km/h (1.67 and 2.22 m/s) is considered a transitional speed between walking and running and should be avoided in experimental procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Manolis Adamakis

  2. Department of Education and Social Work, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Manolis Adamakis

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Adamakis, M. Energy Expenditure of Adolescents During Overground Walking and Running. J. of SCI. IN SPORT AND EXERCISE 5, 44–52 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00157-7

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