Effects of fat mass and body fat distribution on resting metabolic rate in the elderly

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between resting metabolic rate (RMR) and fat-free mass, fat mass, and body fat distribution in 164 women (age 60 to 85 years; body mass index [BMI], 18.5 to 35.6 kg/m2) and 98 men (age 60 to 85 years; BMI, 18.3 to 36.5 kg/m2). After an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Metabolism, clinical and experimental clinical and experimental, 2001-08, Vol.50 (8), p.972-975
Main Authors: L[uuml ]hrmann, Petra M., Herbert, Birgit M., Neuh[auml ]user-Berthold, Monika
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipose Tissue
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Basal Metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Body Composition
Development. Metamorphosis. Moult. Ageing
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Intermediate and energetic metabolism
Male
Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between resting metabolic rate (RMR) and fat-free mass, fat mass, and body fat distribution in 164 women (age 60 to 85 years; body mass index [BMI], 18.5 to 35.6 kg/m2) and 98 men (age 60 to 85 years; BMI, 18.3 to 36.5 kg/m2). After an overnight fast, RMR was assessed by indirect calorimetry and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was used to determine fat distribution. Results from linear regression analysis showed that most of the variance in RMR could be attributed to fat-free mass in women (R2 = 0.54) and men (R2 = 0.44), respectively. Fat mass explained an additional 3% and 2% of the variability in RMR in women and men, respectively. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, considering body composition and fat distribution, only fat-free mass and WHR were significant predictors of RMR in both sexes. In addition to fat-free mass, in women 6% and in men 8% of the variability in RMR was attributable to WHR. Grouping subjects according to their WHR, RMR, and RMR adjusted for fat-free mass and fat mass showed a significant increase with increasing WHR in both sexes. Results indicate that RMR not only depends on fat-free mass but also is influenced by fat mass, especially by fat distribution. These findings support our hypothesis of an elevated RMR with increasing abdominal body fat as a direct consequence of its greater metabolic activity.
ISSN:0026-0495
1532-8600
DOI:10.1053/meta.2001.24871