title: Resting energy expenditure in normal-weight and overweight/obese subjects was similar despite elevated sympathovagal balance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alterations in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) may cause impairment in the metabolic processes that can lead to weight gain. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference between the resting energy expenditure (REE) and the resting ANS activity in overweight/obese and normal-weight healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 consisted of 18 subjects with BMI > 25 kg/m², and 20 subjects with BMI ranging from 20 to 25 kg/m² formed group 2. Measurements of low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) power components expressed in normalized units (LFnu, HFnu) and LF/HF ratio were assessed for analysis of heart rate variability, and simultaneously REE measurement was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean LFnu (27.2% increased) and the LF/HF were higher and the mean HFnu was lower (29.9% decreased) in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.01). Although a statistical difference was observed in REE between groups, REE per kilogram corrected for fat-free mass (REE(FFMcorr)) was 21.47 ± 2.92 kcal/day/kg in group 1, and 21.56 ± 1.90 kcal/day/kg in group 2, and this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that REE(FFMcorr) in overweight/obese and normal-weight subjects were similar despite elevated sympathovagal balance in overweight/obese individuals, and REE(FFMcorr) should be used to avoid misestimating the REE in obese and normal-weight subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Mersin, Turkey. drugurdal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dal
authors.forename: A Taner
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Asligul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cureoglu
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beydagi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D050177:Overweight / Q000378:metabolism*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D013851:Thinness / Q000378:metabolism*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult