No effect of gender on different components of daily energy expenditure in free living prepubertal children.
BACKGROUND
There are limited and controversial data on the influence of gender on metabolic rate in prepubertal children.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of gender on resting energy expenditure (REE), activity-related energy expenditure (AEE), total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity level (PAL) in free-living prepubertal children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
40 prepubertal children (24 boys, 16 girls, 4-11 y old (mean age: 7.0 +/- 1.2 y), BMI 13.1-32.0 kg/m2).


METHODS
Energy expenditure was measured by the combination of indirect calorimetry and individually calibrated 24 h heart rate monitoring. Body composition was assessed by anthropometrics and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Socio-cultural and socio-economic factors, as well as activities of daily living, were estimated by questionnaire for the parents. Boys and girls were matched for fat-free mass (FFM, boys: 25.9 +/- 8.5 kg; and girls: 24.4 +/- 4.5 kg, n.s.) and fat mass (FM, boys: 11.6-5.9 kg; and girls: 10.8 +/- 3.3 kg, n.s.).


RESULTS
We found no sex difference in REE, AEE and TEE. PAL was 1.4 +/- 0.3 for boys and 1.2 +/- 0.4 for girls. REE and TEE were significantly related to FFM (r=0.62, r=0.81, r=0.60). FFM was found to be the most significant determinant of REE (r2=0.70). REE accounted for the largest part of the variance in TEE (r2=0.46). Gender had no significant effect.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no effect of gender on energy expenditure in prepubertal children.
Grund
A
A
Institut für Humanernährung und Lebensmittelkunde (Abteilung Ernährung des Menschen) der Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Germany.
Vollbrecht
H
H
Frandsen
W
W
Krause
H
H
Siewers
M
M
Rieckert
H
H
Müller
M J
MJ
D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires