HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tou, J. C.L. Articles by Wade, C. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tou, J. C.L. Articles by Wade, C. E.

---

MINIREVIEW

Determinants Affecting Physical Activity Levels In Animal Models¹

Janet C.L. Tou^* and Charles E. Wade^,2

^* Lockheed Martin Engineering and Sciences, and
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center, Life Sciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035

Weight control is dependent on energy balance. Reduced energy expenditure (EE) associated with decreased physical activity is suggested to be a major underlying cause in the increasing prevalence of weight gain and obesity. Therefore, a better understanding of the biological determinants involved in the regulation of physical activity is essential. To facilitate interpretation in humans, it is helpful to consider the evidence from animal studies. This review focuses on animal studies examining the biological determinants influencing activity and potential implications to human. It appears that physical activity is influenced by a number of parameters. However, regardless of the parameter involved, body weight appears to play an underlying role in the regulation of activity. Furthermore, the regulation of activity associated with body weight appears to occur only after the animal achieves a critical weight. This suggests that activity levels are a consequence rather than a contributor to weight control. However, the existence of an inverse weight-activity relationship remains inconclusive. Confounding the results are the multifactorial nature of physical activity and the lack of appropriate measuring devices. Furthermore, many determinants of body weight are closely interlocked, making it difficult to determine whether a single, combination, or interaction of factors is important for the regulation of activity. For example, diet-induced obesity, aging, lesions to the ventral medial hypothalamus, and genetics all produce hypoactivity. Providing a better understanding of the biological determinants involved in the regulation of activity has important implications for the development of strategies for the prevention of weight gain leading to obesity and subsequent morbidity and mortality in the human population.

Key Words: activity • body weight • obesity • energy expenditure • rodents

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. K. Judge, J. Zhang, N. Tumer, C. Carter, M. J. Daniels, and P. J. Scarpace Prolonged hyperphagia with high-fat feeding contributes to exacerbated weight gain in rats with adult-onset obesity Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2008; 295(3): R773 - R780. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Berentzen, S. I. I. Kring, C. Holst, E. Zimmermann, T. Jess, T. Hansen, O. Pedersen, S. Toubro, A. Astrup, and T. I. A. Sorensen Lack of Association of Fatness-Related FTO Gene Variants with Energy Expenditure or Physical Activity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2008; 93(7): 2904 - 2908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Kotz, J. A. Teske, and C. J. Billington Neuroregulation of nonexercise activity thermogenesis and obesity resistance Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2008; 294(3): R699 - R710. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Bjursell, A.-K. Gerdin, C. J. Lelliott, E. Egecioglu, A. Elmgren, J. Tornell, J. Oscarsson, and M. Bohlooly-Y Acutely reduced locomotor activity is a major contributor to Western diet-induced obesity in mice Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2008; 294(2): E251 - E260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Hunnell, N. J. Rockcastle, K. N. McCormick, L. K. Sinko, E. L. Sullivan, and J. L. Cameron Physical activity of adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) across the menstrual cycle Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2007; 292(6): E1520 - E1525. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Harris, L. M. Lanningham-Foster, S. K. McCrady, and J. A. Levine Nonexercise movement in elderly compared with young people Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2007; 292(4): E1207 - E1212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Fediuc, J. E. Campbell, and M. C. Riddell Effect of voluntary wheel running on circadian corticosterone release and on HPA axis responsiveness to restraint stress in Sprague-Dawley rats J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2006; 100(6): 1867 - 1875. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Novak, C. M. Kotz, and J. A. Levine Central orexin sensitivity, physical activity, and obesity in diet-induced obese and diet-resistant rats Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2006; 290(2): E396 - E403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. R. Castaneda, H. Jurgens, P. Wiedmer, P. Pfluger, S. Diano, T. L. Horvath, M. Tang-Christensen, and M. H. Tschop Obesity and the Neuroendocrine Control of Energy Homeostasis: The Role of Spontaneous Locomotor Activity J. Nutr., May 1, 2005; 135(5): 1314 - 1319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Jones, C. Barrick, K.-A. Kim, J. Lindner, B. Blondeau, Y. Fujimoto, M. Shiota, R. A. Kesterson, B. B. Kahn, and M. A. Magnuson Deletion of PPAR{gamma} in adipose tissues of mice protects against high fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance PNAS, April 26, 2005; 102(17): 6207 - 6212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Eckel and S. R. Moore Diet-induced hyperphagia in the rat is influenced by sex and exercise Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2004; 287(5): R1080 - R1085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]