STUDY – Constrained Total Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Adaptation to Physical Activity in Adult Humans.

The metabolic costs and health benefits of physical activity are well established, but the long-term effect of physical activity on total daily energy requirements is far less certain. The predominant view assumes a dose-dependent and additive effect of physical activity on total energy expenditure (kcal/day), with each increment of physical activity leading to a corresponding increase in total energy expenditure. This Additive model is supported by studies showing positive correlations between total energy expenditure and accelerometry recordings of physical activity. Moreover, the Additive total energy expenditure model of metabolic physiology has shaped public health strategies to combat the global rise in obesity, which typically propose increasing physical activity as a means to increase total energy expenditure and achieve a healthy weight and maintain energy balance.

A growing number of studies examining the long-term metabolic effects of exercise suggest that the relationship between physical activity and total energy expenditure is more complex than Additive models allow.

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Ok! This study seems to indicate that more activity doesn’t necessarily mean you’re increasing your “burn” as much as we’ve all been told. The biohacky gadget that would be good to have is one that says “Hey, at this point you’re better off talking a walk than hitting the gym, diminishing returns at the moment”. It would be good to know where and when the maximum returns are, more people would likely exercise is they knew “adding more” eventually wasn’t going to help and focus on the amount they do in the best ways possible. Right now most/all the fitness trackers reward additive.