Non-exercise activity thermogenesis
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), also known as non-exercise physical activity (NEPA),[1] is energy expenditure during activities that are not part of a structured exercise program. NEAT includes physical activity at the workplace, hobbies, standing instead of sitting, walking around, climbing stairs, doing chores, and fidgeting.[2][3] Besides differences in body composition, it represents most of the variation in energy expenditure across individuals and populations, accounting from 6-10 percent to as much as 50 percent of energy expenditure in highly active individuals.[4]
Relationship with obesity
NEAT is the main component of activity-related energy expenditure in obese individuals, as most do not do any physical exercise. NEAT is also lower in obese individuals than the general population.[4]
NEAT may be reduced in individuals who have lost weight, which some hypothesize contributes to difficulties in achieving and sustaining weight loss.[1]
In Western countries, occupations have shifted from physical labor to sedentary work, which results in a loss of energy expenditure. Strenuous physical labor can require 1500 calories or more per day than desk work.[3]
Relationship with exercise
It is debated whether there is a significant reduction in NEAT after beginning a structured exercise program.[5][6][7]
Health benefits
Lack of NEAT is posited as an explanation for health harms for prolonged sitting.[8]
Measurement
Accelerometers and questionnaires can be used to estimate NEAT.[4]
References
- Silva, Analiza M.; Júdice, Pedro B.; Carraça, Eliana V.; King, Neil; Teixeira, Pedro J.; Sardinha, Luís B. (June 2018). "What is the effect of diet and/or exercise interventions on behavioural compensation in non-exercise physical activity and related energy expenditure of free-living adults? A systematic review". British Journal of Nutrition. 119 (12): 1327–1345. doi:10.1017/S000711451800096X. ISSN 0007-1145. PMID 29845903. S2CID 44075586.
- Saeidifard, Farzane; Medina-Inojosa, Jose R; Supervia, Marta; Olson, Thomas P; Somers, Virend K; Erwin, Patricia J; Lopez-Jimenez, Francisco (March 2018). "Differences of energy expenditure while sitting versus standing: A systematic review and meta-analysis". European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 25 (5): 522–538. doi:10.1177/2047487317752186. PMID 29385357. S2CID 3561544.
- Loeffelholz, Christian von; Birkenfeld, Andreas L. (2022). "Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis in Human Energy Homeostasis". Endotext [Internet]. MDText.com, Inc.
- Chung, Nana; Park, Mi-Young; Kim, Jisu; Park, Hun-Young; Hwang, Hyejung; Lee, Chi-Ho; Han, Jin-Soo; So, Jaemoo; Park, Jonghoon; Lim, Kiwon (30 June 2018). "Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT): a component of total daily energy expenditure". Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry. 22 (2): 23–30. doi:10.20463/jenb.2018.0013. ISSN 2233-6834. PMC 6058072. PMID 30149423.
- Fedewa, Michael V.; Hathaway, Elizabeth D.; Williams, Tyler D.; Schmidt, Michael D. (1 June 2017). "Effect of Exercise Training on Non-Exercise Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials". Sports Medicine. 47 (6): 1171–1182. doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0649-z. ISSN 1179-2035. PMID 27873191. S2CID 27543179.
- Washburn, R. A.; Lambourne, K.; Szabo, A. N.; Herrmann, S. D.; Honas, J. J.; Donnelly, J. E. (February 2014). "Does increased prescribed exercise alter non‐exercise physical activity/energy expenditure in healthy adults? A systematic review". Clinical Obesity. 4 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1111/cob.12040. ISSN 1758-8103. PMC 5996763. PMID 25425128.
- Mansfeldt, Julie Marvel; Magkos, Faidon (1 June 2023). "Compensatory Responses to Exercise Training As Barriers to Weight Loss: Changes in Energy Intake and Non-exercise Physical Activity". Current Nutrition Reports. 12 (2): 327–337. doi:10.1007/s13668-023-00467-y. ISSN 2161-3311. PMID 36933180. S2CID 257603943.
- Levine, James A. (1 August 2015). "Sick of sitting". Diabetologia. 58 (8): 1751–1758. doi:10.1007/s00125-015-3624-6. ISSN 1432-0428. PMID 26003325. S2CID 2706500.