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Objectives: Traditional jumping–dance rituals performed by Maasai men involve prolonged physical exertion that may contribute significantly to overall physical activity level. We aimed to objectively quantify the metabolic intensity of jumping–dance activity and assess associations with habitual physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Methods: Twenty Maasai men (18–37 years) from rural Tanzania volunteered to participate in the study. Habitual physical activity was monitored using combined heart rate (HR) and movement sensing over 3 days, and jumping–dance engagement was self‐reported. A 1‐h jumping–dance session resembling a traditional ritual was organized, during which participants' vertical acceleration and HR were monitored. An incremental, submaximal 8‐min step test was performed to calibrate HR to physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) and assess CRF. Results: Mean (range) habitual PAEE was 60 (37–116) kJ day−1 kg−1, and CRF was 43 (32–54) mL O2 min−1 kg−1. The jumping–dance activity was performed at an absolute HR of 122 (83–169) beats·min−1, and PAEE of 283 (84–484) J min−1 kg−1 or 42 (18–75)% when expressed relative to CRF. The total PAEE for the session was 17 (range 5–29) kJ kg−1, ~28% of the daily total. Self‐reported engagement in habitual jumping–dance frequency was 3.8 (1–7) sessions/week, with a total duration of 2.1 (0.5–6.0) h/session. Conclusions: Intensity during traditional jumping–dance activity was moderate, but on average sevenfold higher than habitual physical activity. These rituals are common, and can make a substantial contribution to overall physical activity in Maasai men, and thus be promoted as a culture‐specific activity to increase energy expenditure and maintain good health in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The agro‐pastoralist Maasai of East Africa are highly physically active, but their aerobic fitness has so far only been estimated using heart rate (HR) response to submaximal exercise and not directly measured. Thus, we aimed to measure aerobic fitness directly using respiratory gas analysis in a group of Maasai, and habitual physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) as explanatory variable. Methods: In total, 21 (10 rural, 11 semi‐urban) of 30 volunteering Tanzanian Maasai men were eligible to participate. Respiratory gas exchange was measured during a graded exercise test until exhaustion on a stationary bicycle to determine aerobic fitness. Maximal effort criteria were at least two of the following (1) leveling off, (2) respiratory exchange ratio (RER) >1.10, and (3) maximum HR within 10 bpm of age‐estimated maximum HR. Habitual PAEE was estimated using combined accelerometry and HR monitoring. Anthropometry, biochemistry, blood pressure, resting HR, and dietary intake information were collected for background information. Results: Mean age was 43.2 (range 26–60) years, and hemoglobin was higher in the rural versus semi‐urban Maasai (16.9 vs. 15.4 g/dl, p =.02). Mean aerobic fitness (34.4 vs. 33.3 mlO2/min/kg, p =.79), and mean PAEE (58.5 vs. 52.9 kJ/day/kg, p =.64) were similar in rural and semi‐urban Maasai, respectively. Conclusions: Aerobic fitness was low to moderate in male rural and semi‐urban Maasai. This may be explained by relatively low PAEE in comparison to previous objectively measured activity levels in Maasai, which indicates recent lifestyle changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]