Predicting the resting metabolic rate of young and middle-aged healthy Korean adults: A preliminary study

[PURPOSE]: This preliminary study aimed to develop a regression model to estimate the resting metabolic rate (RMR) of young and middle-aged Koreans using various easy-to-measure dependent variables. [METHODS]: The RMR and the dependent variables for its estimation (e.g. age, height, body mass index, fat-free mass; FFM, fat mass, % body fat, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and resting heart rate) were measured in 53 young (male n = 18, female n = 16) and middle-aged (male n = 5, female n = 14) healthy adults. Statistical analysis was performed to develop an RMR estimation regression model using the stepwise regression method. [RESULTS]: We confirmed that FFM and age were important variables in both the regression models based on the regression coefficients. Mean explanatory power of RMR(1) regression models estimated only by FFM was 66.7% (R(2)) and 66.0% (adjusted R(2)), while mean standard errors of estimates (SEE) was 219.85 kcal/day. Additionally, mean explanatory power of RMR(2) regression models developed by FFM and age were 70.0% (R(2)) and 68.8% (adjusted R(2)), while the mean SEE was 210.64 kcal/day. There was no significant difference between the measured RMR by the canopy method using a metabolic gas analyzer and the predicted RMR by RMR(1) and RMR(2) equations. [CONCLUSION]: This preliminary study developed a regression model to estimate the RMR of young and middle-age healthy Koreans. The regression model was as follows: RMR(1) = 24.383 × FFM + 634.310, RMR(2) = 23.691 × FFM - 5.745 × age + 852.341.