Abstract
A sample taken from a population (Maltese) with a high incidence of the metabolic complications of central obesity was studied to determine: (1) whether the standard Schofield equations adequately predict the basal metabolic rate (BMR) in this population: (2) whether the Maltese have a greater tendency for central obesity compared with other populations; (3) whether the distribution of body fat influences energy expenditure and fuel selection. Healthy women responding to a public advertisement were sampled randomly from the Maltese population. Correlation analysis and analysis of variance were used to study relationships between BMR and body composition. Anthropometric parameters (including body fat distribution indices, bioimpedance) and BMR were measured after an overnight fast. Six percent of the respondents were excluded because of recent illness, instability of diet or of body weight. Fifty subjects attended a clinic at the Medical School. The distribution of excess fat between central and peripheral areas in the Maltese population was similar to that reported for the British population. The Waisthip ratio (WHR) reflected neither basal heat production (BMR) nor the contribution of fat oxidation to BMR. The Schofield equations systematically underestimated BMR by 5.4%±0.86% (P<0.05). The study suggests a limitation in using the Schofield equations for predicting BMR in the female Maltese population studied. It also suggests that the fat distribution between central and peripheral areas in this population has no effect on BMR.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bonithon-Knopp C, Raison J, Egloff H, Guy-Grand B, Durimetiere P, Skinfolds and body circumferences as measures of body fat patterning in a French female active population: relationship with the metabolic risk profile. J Clin Epidemiol 44: 475–482, 1991
Seidell JC, Cigolini M, Desylpere JP, Charchewska J, Ellsinger AM, Cruz A, Indicators of fat distribution, serum lipids and blood pressure in European women born in 1948 — the European fat distribution study. Am J Clin Epidemiol 133: 257–265, 1991
Cacciattolo JM, Major findings from the 1984 Monica Baseline Survey: Contribution to the Malta Case Study for the International Conference on Nutrition in Malta. Department of Health, Malta, 1992
Ministry for Youth and the Arts, Participation in sports in Malta. Ministry for Youth and the Arts, Malta, 1992
Schranz AG, Abnormal glucose tolerance in the Maltese: a population-based longitudinal study of the national history of NIDDM and IGT in Malta. Diabetes Res 7: 7–16, 1989
Bellizzi M, Food and health in Malta: a situation analysis and proposals for action. Department of Health, Malta, 1992
Rebuffe-Scrive N, Enk L, Crons N, Lonnroth P et al, Fat cell metabolism in different regions in women. Effect of menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation. J Clin Invest 75: 1973–1976, 1985
Bevilacqua S, Bonadonna R, Buzzigoli G et al, Acute elevation of free fatty acid levels leads to hepatic insulin resistance in obese patients. Metabolism 36: 502–506, 1987
Randle PJ, Garland PB, Hales CN, Newsholme EA, The glucose-fatty acid cycle: its role in insulin sensitivity and the metabolic disturbaces of diabetes mellitus. Lancet 2: 185–189, 1963
Wolfe R, Klein S, Carraro F, Weber JM, The role of triglyceridefatty acid cycle in controlling metabolism in humans during and after exercise. Am J Physiol 285 (Endocrinol Metabolism 21): E382-E389, 1990
Schofield WN, Schofield C, James WPT, Basal metabolic rate — review and prediction. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 39 [Suppl]: 1–96 1985
WHO, Measuring obesity: Classification and description of anthropometric data. Report on a WHO consultation on the epidemiology of obesity. WHO, Regional Office for Europe, pp 1–22, 1987
Frisancho RA, Standards of weight and body composition by frame size and height for assessment of nutritional status of adults and elderly. Am J Clin Nutr 40: 808–819, 1984
Ashwell M, Cole TJ, Dixon AK, Obesity: new insight into the anthropometric classification of fat distribution shown by computed tomography. Br Med J 290: 1692–1694, 1985
Durnin JVGA, Womersley J, Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness:measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16–72 years. Br J Nutr 32: 77–91, 1974
Pullicino E, Coward WA, Stubbs RJ, Elia M, Bedside and field methods for assessing body composition: comparison with the deuterium dilution technique. Eur J Clin Nutr 44: 753–762, 1990
Siri WE, The gross composition of the body. Adv Bio Phys 4: 239–280, 1956
Valdez RA, Simple model-based index of abdominal adiposity. J Clin Epidemiol 44: 955–956, 1991
Rudman D, Bleir J, Nutritional requirements. In: Petersdorf RG, Adams RD, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Martin JB, Wilson JD (eds) Harrison's principles of internal medicine. McGraw Hill, New York, pp 133–134
Elia M, Livesey G, Energy expenditure and fuel selection in biological systems: the theory and practice of calculations based on calorimetrty and tracer methods. World Rev Nutr Dietetics 70: 68–131, 1992
Garrow JS, Webster J, Are pre-obese people energy thrifty? Lancet 1: 670–671, 1985
White A, Nicolaas G, Foster K, Brown F, Carey S, Health survey for England. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, pp 47–69, 1991
Harris J, Benedict F, A biometric study of basal metabolism in man. (Publication 279) Washington, Carnegie Institute, 1919
Owen O, Kavle E, Polansky R et al, A reappraisal of caloric requirements in healthy women. Am J Clin Nutr 44: 1–19, 1986
Heymsfield S, Head A, McManus A et al, Respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic effects of enteral hyperalimentation: influence of formula dose and composition. Am J Clin Nutr 40: 116–130 1984
Cunningham J, A reanalysis of the factors influencing metabolic in rate in normal adults. Am J Clin Nutr 33: 2372–2374, 1980
Henry CJK, Piggott S, Emery B, Basal metabolic rate and diet induced thermogenesis in Asians living in Britain. Clin Nutr 41C: 397–402, 1987
Lawrence M, Thongaprasert K, Durnin JVGA, Between group differences in basal metabolic rate: an analysis of data collected in Scotland, the Gambia and Thailand. Eur J Clin Nutr 42: 877–891, 1988
Westrate JA, Denner J, Stoel M, Beghejn LM, Deurenberg P, Hautvast JGAJ, Resting energy expenditure in men: impact of obesity and body fat distribution. Metabolism 39: 11–17, 1990
Armellini F, Robbi R, Zamboni M, Tedesco T, Castelli S, Bosello O, Resting metabolic rate, body fat distribution and visceral fat in obese women. Am J Clin Nutr 56: 981–987, 1992
Goldrich RB, McLoughlin GM, Lipolysis and lipogenesis from glucose in human fat cells of different sizes. J Clin Invest 49: 1213–1223, 1970
Weits T, Beek AE der, Wedel M, Ter Haar Romeny BH, Computed tomography measurement of abdominal fat deposition in relation to anthropometry. Int J Obesity 12: 217–225, 1988
Mueller WH, Mulina RM, Relative reliability of circumferences and skinfolds as measures of body fat distribution. Am J Phys Anthropol 72: 437–439, 1987
Mueller WH, Wear HL, Harris CL, Barton SA, Schull WJ, Body circumferences as alternatives to skinfold measurements of body fat distribution in Mexican-Americans. Int J Obesity 11: 309–318, 1987
Kvist H, Chowdhury B, Grangard U, Tylen M, Sjostrom L, Total and visceral adipose tissue volumes derived from measurements with computed tomography in adult men and women. Am J Clin Nutr 48: 1351–1361, 1988
Seidell JC, Oosterlee A, Thijssen MAO, Burema J, Hautvast JGA, Ruijs JMJ, Abdominal fat depots measured with computed tomography: effects of degree of obesity, sex and age. Eur J Clin Nutr 42: 805–815, 1989
Schlostrom S, Lars-Olof W, Forsum E, Adipose tissue distribution as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and total body fat by magnetic resonace imaging, underwater weighing, and body water dilution in healthy women. Am J Clin Nutr 58: 830–838, 1993
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pullicino, E., Copperstone, C., Luzi, L. et al. Relationship between anthropometric indices of body fat distribution and basal energy metabolism in healthy Maltese women. Acta Diabetol 33, 198–204 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048543
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048543