Resting energy expenditure and body composition in overweight men and women living in a temperate climate

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether the measured resting energy expenditure (REE) in overweight and obese patients living in a temperate climate is lower than the predicted REE; and to ascertain which equation should be used in patients living in a temperate climate. REE (indirect calorimetry) and body composition (DXA) were measured in 174 patients (88 men and 86 women; 20–68 years old) with overweight or obesity (BMI 27–45 kg m−2). All volunteers were residents in Gran Canaria (monthly temperatures: 18–24◦C). REE was lower than predicted by most equations in our population. Age and BMI were similar in both sexes. In the whole population, the equations of Mifflin, Henry and Rees, Livingston and Owen, had similar levels of accuracy (non-significant bias of 0.7%, 1.1%, 0.6%, and −2.2%, respectively). The best equation to predict resting energy expenditure in overweight and moderately obese men and women living in a temperate climate all year round is the Mifflin equation. In men, the equations by Henry and Rees, Livingston, and by Owen had predictive accuracies comparable to that of Mifflin. The body composition-based equation of Johnston was slightly more accurate than Mifflin’s in men. In women, none of the body composition-based equations outperformed Mifflin’s.