A Combined Heart Rate and Movement Index Sensor for Estimating the Energy Expenditure

Energy production accompanied with oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)). To accurately measure energy expenditure (EE), indirect calorimetry is considered as the standard equipment that it can determine the respiratory gas exchange. Due to it remains an expensive technique and requires the use of a mask that the subject may feel uncomfortable. So the aim of this study was to develop the type-patch sensor that can simply attach on the chest and monitor the physical activity EE. The patch-type sensor (AirBeat System) can real-time monitor heart rate (HR) and movement index (MI). We use the combined HR and MI method for assessment. Twelve colleague students (six male, six female) were recruited in this study. The participants walked and run on the treadmill under submaximal protocols. VO(2) and EE were measured by the portable metabolic system (Cosmed 4Kb(2), Srl, Italy) and compared with the estimated EE from the patch-type sensor. Our results show the HR has strong linear relationship with VO(2) (R(2) = 0.98) and high accurate assessment (P < 0.001).