[Characterization of metabolic resting rate and proposal of a new equation for a female Brazilian population].
OBJECTIVE
The goals of this study were to standardize resting metabolic rate (RMR) in the Brazilian female population and evaluate the suitability of the HB equation.


METHODS
In order to do so, 760 indirect calorimetry (CI) measurements performed in Brazilian female patients between 18 and 65 years old, were used. The results were tabulated, the population distributed according to the quintiles of weight, and the statistical analyses applied.


RESULTS
The average RMR varied from 1,226 to 1,775 calories/day. The HB equation overestimated the RMR by about 7%. From the correlation between the variables, we conclude that weight has a positive correlation with RMR and age a negative correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
The RMR and respiratory quotient (QR) can be used as obesity predictors. Two new equations were proposed in our study, one for the population with body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m(2) and another for the population with BMI < 35 kg/m(2).
Rodrigues
Alessandra E
AE
Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. sna.nutri@uol.com.br
Mancini
Marcio C
MC
Dalcanale
Lorença
L
Melo
Maria Edna de
ME
Cercato
Cíntia
C
Halpern
Alfredo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult