BMR in a Brazilian adult probability sample: The Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Survey

Abstract

Objective: To measure BMR in a probability sample of adults from an urban city of Brazil and to compare indirectly measured BMR (BMRi) with BMR predicted from different equations. Design: BMR data were obtained by indirect calorimetry and estimated by different predictive equations (Schofield; Harris and Benedict; Henry and Rees). Anthropometric and body composition measures were also obtained. Setting: The Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Survey (PNAFS), a household survey conducted in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Subjects Representative sample of 529 adults (aged ≥20 years; 339 females) living in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Results Mean BMRi values were 5839·7 (se 73·9) kJ/d and 4758·1 (se 39·5) kJ/d for men and women, respectively. Predicted BMR by all equations was significantly higher (difference between means and 95 % CI did not include zero) than BMRi in both men and women of all ages. Overall bias in BMR (predicted BMR minus BMRi) using the Schofield equations (overestimation of about 20 %) was higher than when using the Henry and Rees equations (13 % and 16 % overestimation for males and females, respectively). The percentage of individuals whose BMR predicted by the Schofield equations fell within 10 % of BMRi was very low (7·8 % and 14·1 % of males and females, respectively). Conclusions: Current available predictive equations of BMR are not adequate to estimate BMR in Brazilians living in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. © The Authors 2013.