Meta-analysis of resting metabolic rate in formerly obese subjects.
BACKGROUND
A low resting metabolic rate (RMR) for a given body size and composition is partly genetically determined and has been suggested to be a risk factor for weight gain. Moreover, a low relative RMR has been reported in some, but not all, studies of formerly obese persons. The inconsistent reports may be due to a lack of statistical power to detect small differences in RMR and improper adjustment for body size and composition.


OBJECTIVE
We conducted a meta-analysis based on published studies of RMR in formerly obese persons [body mass index (in kg/m2) < or = 27] and matched control subjects who had never been obese.


METHODS
We performed both an individual subject data meta-analysis and a traditional meta-analysis.


RESULTS
The individual subject data meta-analysis included 124 formerly obese and 121 control subjects. RMR adjusted for differences in fat-free mass and fat mass was 2.9% lower in formerly obese subjects than in control subjects (P = 0.09). A low relative RMR (> 1 SD below the mean of the control group) was found in 3.3% of the control subjects and in 15.3% of the formerly obese subjects [difference: 12% (95% CI: 4.7%, 19.3%); P < 0.003]. The traditional meta-analysis was based on 12 studies (including 94 formerly obese and 99 control subjects) and included 3 studies not represented in the individual subject data analysis. In this analysis, relative RMR was lower in the formerly obese group than in the control group by 5.1% (95% CI: 1.7%, 8.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Formerly obese subjects had a 3-5% lower mean relative RMR than control subjects; the difference could be explained by a low RMR being more frequent among the formerly obese subjects than among the control subjects. Whether the cause of the low RMR is genetic or acquired, the existence of a low RMR is likely to contribute to the high rate of weight regain in formerly obese persons.
Astrup
A
A
Research Department of Human Nutrition and the Center for Food Research, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark. ast@kvl.dk
Gøtzsche
P C
PC
van de Werken
K
K
Ranneries
C
C
Toubro
S
S
Raben
A
A
Buemann
B
B
D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*