Validation of predictive equations of basal metabolic rate of women living in Southern Brazil

Objective To measure the basal metabolic rate of women (aged 20 to 40 years) living in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and to compare it with estimated values bored on published predictive equations. Methods Basal metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry under standard conditions in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle of 60 volunteers. Results Mean measured basal metabolic rate (+/- standard deviation) was 1,185.3 +/- 148.6 kcal/24 hours. Estimated basal metabolic rates were significantly greater (7% to 17%) than measured basal metabolic rate (p<0.0001). Conclusions These results show that predictive equations are not suitable to estimate basal metabolic rate in these groups of women and that the use of estimated basal metabolic rate will lead to an overestimation of energy requirements in women with similar characteristics.