title: Resting metabolic rate in young Polynesian and Caucasian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether resting metabolic rate (RMR) differs between Caucasian and Polynesian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two (42 Caucasian, 40 Polynesian) healthy women aged between 18 and 27 y.
  
  
  METHODS
  RMR (indirect calorimetry) and body composition (fat-free mass and fat mass derived from oxygen-18 dilution measurement of total body water).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RMR was similar in the Caucasian (6956 +/- 1291 (s.d.) kJ/d) and Polynesian (7125 +/- 1290 kJ/d) groups while fat-free mass was significantly lower in the Caucasian group (45.3 +/- 6.8 vs 51.0 +/- 6.4 kg, P < 0.002). After adjustment for fat-free mass and fat mass, RMR was lower in the Polynesian than the Caucasian groups (6783 +/- 904 vs 7281 +/- 901 kJ/d, P = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significantly lower relative RMR observed in Polynesian compared to Caucasian women may predispose Polynesian women to eventual onset of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science, Auckland Institute of Technology, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Plank
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People