Energy expenditure of soldiers in a warm humid climate

Abstract

1. Energy expenditure determinations have been made on thirty-two soldiers newly arrived in the warm humid climate of southern Malaya. Ergometer cycling was investigated as well as everyday activities such as lying, sitting, riding in a trunck, abultions, buildings a jungle camp and walking with loads over four different routes.2. The inter-individual variation in the gross energy expenditure (kcal/min and kJ/min) of each activity has been compared with the variation in energy expenditure standardized for body-weight, surface area and lean body mass. Standardization for body size did not consistently or effectively reduce the coefficients of variation of energy expenditure.3. The gross energy expenditure of most activities was significantly correlated with bodyweight, surface area or lean body mass but the correlation coefficients were not of a high order, suggesting that less than 41% of the inter-individual variation in energy expenditure was accounted for by variation in body size. 4. The energy expenditure of walking at various speeds over both firm and uneven terrain was related to the square of the walking speed and the total weight of the man and his equipment (correlation coefficients 0.89–0.92, P < 0.001).