title: Measured and predicted resting metabolic rate in obese and nonobese adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The validity of equations for the calculation of resting metabolic rate (RMR) were studied and new predictive equations were developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The RMR was measured in a sample of 371 10- to 16-year-old prepubertal and postpubertal children. The study group included 193 male (116 nonobese and 77 obese) and 178 female (119 nonobese and 59 obese) subjects; for each group the RMRs predicted from five equations recommended for this age group were compared. The RMR was assessed by indirect calorimetry with a ventilated hood system for 45 minutes after an overnight fast. Body composition was estimated from skin-fold measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean +/- SD RMR was found to be 5600 +/- 972 kJ/24 hr and 7223 +/- 1220 kJ/24 hr in nonobese and obese boys, and 5112 +/- 632 kJ/24 hr and 6665 +/- 1106 kJ/24 hr in nonobese and obese girls, respectively. All five equations applicable to 10- to 16-year-old children overestimated RMR by 7.5% to 18.1% (p < 0.001 for each equation). Stepwise regression analysis, with independent variables such as age, weight, height, and gender, allowed development of new predictive equations for the calculation of RMR in 10- to 16-year-old boys (RMR = 50.9 Weight (kg) + 25.3 Height (cm) -50.3 Age (yr) + 26.9; R2 = 0.884, p < 0.0001) and girls (RMR = 51.2 Weight (kg) + 24.5 Height (cm) - 207.5 Age (yr) + 1629.8; R2 = 0.824, p < 0.0001). These predictive equations were tested in a second, independent cohort of children (80 male and 61 female subject) and were found to give a reliable estimate of RMR in 10- to 16-year-old obese and nonobese adolescents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The currently used predictive equations overestimate RMR in 10- to 16-year-old children. The use of the newly developed equations is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Medical School of Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeges
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erhardt
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schutz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002151:Calorimetry; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012885:Skinfold Thickness