Obesity

Behaviour & Lifestyle Monitoring

 

Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A rough measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency to tackle the world-wide issue of obesity. In a recent article in Circulation for the American Heart Foundation: Obesity Is a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19 Infection Multiple Potential Mechanisms1 – Sattar et al. examined the risks posed by higher BMI, excess body fat and the relationship with comorbid diseases to the severity of Covid-19. The authors suggest  ‘obesity or excess ectopic fat deposition may be a unifying risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection’.

In the UK, Public Health England (PHE) has analysed studies from across the world since the start of Covid-19 outbreak. The analysis showed that adipose tissue could be more susceptible to infection as it contains high levels of an enzyme which the coronavirus can attach itself to. Having excess fat gives the virus more of a chance to gain access to cells in the body.

Studies suggest that being overweight and so allowing this excess tissue to form has a direct impact on areas including respiratory function, inflammation, blood and immunity – which are crucial in the fight against COVID-19.

This analysis has led the UK Government to take action to tackle obesity with new Government strategy to reduce obesity and directly reduce the impact of Covid-19.

World Obesity has issued a statement linking Covid-19 and obesity where the authors state ‘given the extremely high rates of obesity around the globe we expect that a high percentage of the population who will contract coronavirus will also have a BMI over 25’.

 

Monitoring Lifestyle and Behaviour

It is clear that the pandemic has generated a renewed focus upon reducing obesity and related diseases such as diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, renal disease and stroke.

It is also clear that further research is required into the links between obesity, sedentary lifestyle and physical activity levels in the general population. Monitoring subject behaviour in free-living can be challenging with over reliance on retrospective subject questionnaires which can be subject to recall bias.

CamNtech devices are designed for epidemiological studies, clinical trials and scientific research related to obesity. Our research library contains numerous peer reviewed papers where CamNtech devices have been used to study obesity.

The Actiheart was extensively used in the UK Fenland Study where 12,435 people from across Cambridgeshire participated to provide detailed genetic profiles with objective clinical measurements such as resting metabolic rate, cardio-respiratory fitness, physical activity energy expenditure or body composition. The Fenland Study investigates the interaction between environmental and genetic factors in determining obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic disorders. The Fenland Covid-19 study is now actively recruiting from the original cohort to learn more about Covid-19 and help to mitigate the pandemic.

 

 

Actiheart

The CamNtech Actiheart was the first combined, wearable Heart Rate and Accelerometer device when launched more than 15 years ago. Now in it’s third generation, the Actiheart uses the latest advances in technology to provide validated Energy Expenditure in free living conditions. The small, waterproof device is worn on the chest by means of standard ECG electrodes or optional elastic chest strap. Data may be recorded for up to 14 days with IBI and full waveform, tri-axial accelerometry. Sampling rates of up to 1024Hz may be used for ECG monitoring in short-term mode.

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  Key Features

Full Waveform Recording in All Modes

Tri-Axial Acelerometer

Up to 1024Hz ECG Sample Rate

Up to 100Hz ACC Sample Rate

Raw Data Output – Open Data Format

1Gbit Memory

Record up to 14 days (IBI)

Record 1 week full ECG+ACC

Compact Size: 39.7 x 30.2 x 9.25mm

Plug-in Replacement Lead

Direct USB – No Reader Required

MotionWatch

The CamNtech MotionWatch provides a convenient, unobtrusive wearable accelerometer combined with advanced software analysis tools for MVPA. The MotionWatch can be worn with the standard wrist strap or optionally in other body locations such as the waist or ankle by means of our soft elastic mounting straps.

The analysis software allows cut points to be set based upon established group calibrations or by means of individual calibration for the subject. The analysis provides deatils of time spent in Sedentary, Low, Moderate and Vigorous physical activity levels.

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  Key Features

Light-weight and waterproof

Fast direct USB transfer

No reader required

Ambient Light Sensor

Event marker button

User replaceable battery

Records for up to three months

Analysis of MVPA levels

Raw data export options

Software includes NPCRA

Legacy .AWD compatible

Research Publications

Click or tap below to view peer-reviewed scientific research publications using CamNtech products:

Obesity

Energy Expenditure

Physical Activity

Diabetes

References:

1 Sattar N, McInnes IB, McMurray JJ. Obesity a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection: multiple potential mechanisms. Circulation. 2020 Apr 22.

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UK & International customers

CamNtech Ltd.
Manor Farm
Fenstanton
Cambridgeshire
PE28 9JD, UK

US customers

CamNtech Inc.
630 Boerne Stage Airfield,
Boerne,
Texas 78006,
USA

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