Metabolic equivalent of task and the accuracy of resting metabolic rate prediction equations in inactive, healthy postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity

Objective. - The aim of this study is to compare the traditionally accepted oxygen consumption value (3.5 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) for 1 metabolic equivalent of task with measured resting oxygen consumption in postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity. The second purpose is to determine the accuracy of selected resting metabolic rate prediction equations. Materials and methods. - This study includes the baseline resting metabolic rate data collected for a more comprehensive exercise intervention study in postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity. Twenty-eight postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity (age: 55.5 +/- 4.0 years, body mass index: 33.0 +/- 4.2 kg.m(-2)) participated in this study. Resting metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry and predicted by selected six equations. One-Sample t-test, Paired-Sample t-test, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, Information Based Measure of Disagreement and Bland-Altman plots were used for data analysis. Results. - Resting oxygen consumption (1.96 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) was 44% lower than thetraditionally accepted oxygen consumption value for 1 metabolic equivalent of task( P < 0.05). Measured resting metabolic rate was 1113 +/- 255 kcal.day(-1). All predictionequations, Mifflin(Weight)(1373 +/- 106 kcal.day(-1)), Mifflin(FatFreeMass)(1281 +/- 83 kcal.day-1), HarrisBenedict (1481 +/- 95 kcal.day(-1)), World Health Organization (1540 +/- 90 kcal.day(-1)), Bernstein( 1225 +/- 73 kcal.day(-1)) and Owen(FatFreeMass)(1202 +/- 83 kcal.day(-1)) significantly overestimated theresting metabolic rate (P < 0.05). Conclusion. - Resting oxygen consumption in postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity is lower than the traditionally accepted value of 1 metabolic equivalent of task. Therefore, the use of standard metabolic equivalent of task may overestimate the resting metabolicrate and lead to misclassification of physical activity intensities in this population. The accuracy of the prediction equations is very low, and they overestimate resting metabolic ratein postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity, which may interfere with the weightmanagement programmes. Whenever possible indirect calorimetry should be used to determineresting metabolic rate in this population. (c) 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to compare the traditionally accepted oxygen consumption value for 1 metabolic equivalent of task with measured resting oxygen consumption in postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity. The results showed that resting oxygen consumption in this population was lower than the traditionally accepted value. Additionally, the selected prediction equations significantly overestimated resting metabolic rate. The findings suggest that the use of standard metabolic equivalent of task may lead to misclassification of physical activity intensities in this population, and indirect calorimetry should be preferred for determining resting metabolic rate.