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Energy Used During Different Activities
Table 4.1 (partially shown below) shows the number
of kcalories burned per hour for various activities. Although the data in the table are from reliable sources, you may detect
that some of the values are at slight variance with those in other books. There are several reasons for this. First, the intensity
of the activity being measured may actually vary (for example handball can be played at many different levels – with
a different number of kcalories burned at each level). Then the kcalories expended by same weight subjects engaged in the
same activity does vary somewhat; and finally measurement techniques and data collection accuracy vary slightly from laboratory
to laboratory. The best one can do, therefore, is arrive at an average from the available data, which often requires judgment
and compromise. More important, notice that the kcalories expended for a given activity depends on your weight. Good news: For any activity, the more you
weigh the more kcalories you burn!
Example 4.1: Let's determine the number of kcalories
burned by a 70 kg man (or woman) who plays nine holes of golf (pulling a golf cart) in two hours.
From the partial
table below, we find a 70 kg person playing golf burns 347 kcalories per hour. Thus, in two hours this individual would burn
2 x 347 = 694 kcal.
But from this we must subtract the number of kcalories a 70 kg person would have used anyway if,
instead of golfing, he or she just sat for the two hours. From the table sitting uses 90 kcal per hour, or 180 kcalories in
two hours. Then the net energy a 70 kg person would expend playing nine holes of golf (over and above just sitting) totals
694 – 180 = 514 kcalories.
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