Elevated Metabolic Rates in Obesity

Postprandial Thermogenesis in Obesity

“…Previous work has shown a coefficient of variation for replicate indirect calorimetry of 2·3% (James, Davies, Bailes & Dauncey, 1978). We have found only a 0·09% difference between the oxygen consumption estimated by this indirect method and by direct calorimetry when the volunteer subjects were measured by the two techniques.…”

“…Thus relating intake to actual body weight would have exaggerated the response in the obese. Secondly, food given on the basis of ideal body weight will probably relate better to the individual's active mass of metabolizing tissue, rather than total body weight, even if obese subjects do have a greater lean body mass than lean controls of similar height (James et al, 1978). This approach also allowed a direct comparison between the obese groups despite differences in body weight and, given the similar heights of all three groups, makes a quantitative analysis of the factors involved in energy imbalance more straightforward.…”

Basal metabolic rate is decreased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and biochemical hyperandrogenemia and is associated with insulin resistance

“…The studies of BMR in obesity are contradictory. The BMR values in obesity are reported to be within normal range (9, 10) or increased (11), but BMR appears to be linked to morbid rather than to moderate obesity (12). Furthermore, although in a previous study from Finland, obesity has been reported to result from low basal metabolism (13), other studies have shown that obese individuals, compared with lean, present increased energy consumption (24).…”

“…The reported values of BMR in obesity, when expressed in relationship to lean body mass or to the body surface area, are usually within normal range (9,10). In other studies, BMR has been associated with obesity (11), but BMR appears to be linked to morbid rather than to moderate obesity (12). A low BMR is considered to be a factor predisposing to obesity, as was shown in a Finnish study (13), and PCOS is characterized by an increased BMI, although not all PCOS women are obese.…”

Changes in the basal metabolic rate of a normal woman induced by short-term and long-term alterations of energy intake.

“…quoted experiments with prisoners (9) or with overweight people (10)(11)(12)(13) and also of long-term undereating with malnourished children (14). The experimental con ditions in these studies, however, were rather extreme, and the results presented were rather variable.…”