We have developed a method to measure how many calories someone uses in one day using activity monitors. In this study, we will compare the method that we developed with another tested method for measuring how many calories you burn in a day.

Who is eligible to participate?

You may be able to participate if you are 18+ years, can ambulate on your own, own a working smart phone, and can speak and read English.
You may not be able to participate if you are wheelchair reliant, if you need an assistive device to walk up to 50 feet, if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure (above 160/100), have a resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute, have a diagnosed cognitive impairment, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or are unable to follow study directions, are taking metabolic altering medications, are using supplemental oxygen, weigh more than 450 lbs, or are pregnant or nursing.

How much time is required for participation?

This research study will consist of up to three meetings at UWM in the Physical Activity and Health Research Laboratory. The first visit will take up to 3 hours. The second visit will take about 6.5 hours. The last visit will take about 2 hours.

What will I be asked to do if I participate in the study?

During the first visit you will review an informed consent document, complete a medical history form, have your height, weight, resting blood pressure and resting heart rate measured. Then you will complete several functional tests including grip strength, walking speed and several other tasks while being video recorded. At the end of the first visit you will have your body composition measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The first visit should take up to 3 hours. During the second visit you will have your resting metabolic rate measured. After that we will get measure your body weight and ask you to provide a urine sample. You will then consume a “heavy” labeled water. We will then ask you to provide one urine sample 4 hours after and 5 hours after consuming the water. We will also obtain a saliva sample at the 5-hour collection period. After the last urine sample is obtained you will be given 4 activity monitors to wear for 10 days. You will wear one on each wrist, one on your hip and one on your thigh all day and all night. 8-10 days after Visit 2 you will be asked to come back to the lab to return the monitors and provide two urine samples, one hour apart.

Will I receive any benefit if I participate in the study?

There are no direct benefits to participating in the study. We will provide information on height, weight, resting blood pressure and heart rate. You will also receive information about your body composition and resting metabolic rate. Further, you will receive a $25 gift card after successfully completing the first visit, $50 in gift cards for completing the second visit, $125 in gift cards for completing the monitoring period, and $100 in gift cards for the third visit, for a total of $300 in gift cards.