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Predicting the resting metabolic rate of 30–60-year-old Australian males

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Abstract

Objectives: This study: (a) generated regression equations for predicting the resting metabolic rate (RMR) of 30–60-y-old Australian males from age, height, mass and fat-free mass (FFM); and (b) cross-validated RMR prediction equations which are currently used in Australia against our measured and predicted values.

Design: A power analysis demonstrated that 41 subjects would enable the detection of (α=0.05, power=0.80) statistically and physiologically significant differences of 8% between predicted/measured RMRs in this study and those predicted from the equations of other investigators.

Subjects: Forty-one males (X̄±s.d.:, 44.8±8.6 y; 83.50±11.32 kg; 179.1±5.0 cm) were recruited for this study.

Interventions: The following variables were measured: skinfold thicknesses; RMR using open circuit indirect calorimetry; and FFM via a four-compartment (fat mass, total body water, bone mineral mass and residual) body composition model.

Results: A multiple regression equation using mass, height and age as predictors correlated 0.745 with RMR and the s.e.e. was 509 kJ/day. Inclusion of FFM as a predictor increased both the correlation and the precision of prediction, but there was no difference between FFM via the four-compartment model (r=0.816, s.e.e.=429 kJ/day) and that predicted from skinfold thicknesses (r=0.805, s.e.e.=441 kJ/day).

Conclusions: Cross-validation analyses emphasised that equations need to be generated from a large database for the prediction of the RMR of 30–60-y-old Australian males.

Sponsorship: Australian Research Council (small grants scheme).

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Author notes

  1. GE van der Ploeg: Guarantor: GE van der Ploeg.

  2. GE van der Ploeg and RT Withers: Contributors: GEV recruited the subjects, collected and analysed the data and helped to write the paper; RTW conceived the study, secured the research funding, supervised the project and wrote the paper.

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  1. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, School of Education, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    GE van der Ploeg & RT Withers

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  1. GE van der Ploeg
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  2. RT Withers
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Correspondence to RT Withers.

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van der Ploeg, G., Withers, R. Predicting the resting metabolic rate of 30–60-year-old Australian males. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 701–708 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601369

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