Question

Describe why oxygen consumption is an indirect measure of metabolism. How do we measure oxygen consumption and internally identify what fuel body is being used for exercise?

Answer 1

why oxygen consumption is an indirect measure of metabolism?

Indirect calorimetry, precisely by calculating oxygen intake, is by far the most common technique for estimating one's metabolic rate and is based on the observation that when the muscles are working, the body consumes oxygen for energy production.

The metabolic rate may be measured by the oxygen consumption rate.

How do we measure oxygen consumption?

The metabolic cart used to measure the oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production in patients. And then using the modified Weir equation to calculate the patient's energy expenditure.

Indirect calorimetry provides two pieces of information, first, the measurement of energy expenditure as reflected by resting energy expenditure (REE) and A measure of substratum use as reflected in the respiratory quotient.

what fuel body is being used for exercise?

The body can store carbohydrates as glycogen in the muscles and liver, and use these stores as a fuel source for physical exercise. These glycogen stores are limited, so it's important to be fully fuelled at the beginning of any exercise for those high-level training.