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Influence of segmental body composition and adiposity hormones on resting metabolic rate and substrate utilization in overweight and obese adults

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Abstract

Purpose

Low resting metabolic rate (RMR) and high carbohydrate reliance at rest are associated with weight gain, but are highly variable in obese individuals. This study determined the relationship of total and segmental body composition and adiposity hormones with RMR and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in overweight and obese adults.

Methods

In 49 men (n = 23) and premenopausal women (n = 26) [mean ± SD; age = 35.0 ± 8.9 years; body mass index (BMI) = 33.6 ± 5.2 kg·m−2; percent body fat (%fat) = 40.0 ± 8.0%], RMR and RER were evaluated using indirect calorimetry. Total and segmental body composition [fat mass (FM), percent fat (%fat), lean mass (LM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT)] were estimated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasted blood and saliva samples were analyzed for insulin, leptin, estradiol, and cortisol.

Results

In men (M) and women (W), RMR significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with FM (M: R = 0.535; W: R = 0.784) and LM (M: R = 0.645; W: R = 0.867). Of the segmental measures, trunk LM (M: R = 0.593; W: R = 0.879; p < 0.05) and leg LM (M: R = 0.664; W: R = 0.821; p < 0.05) had the strongest correlations with RMR. In men, but not women, RER significantly correlated with FM (R = 0.449; p = 0.032), trunk FM (R = 0.501; p = 0.015), and VAT (R = 0.456; p = 0.029). In men, RMR positively correlated with cortisol (R = 0.430, p = 0.040) and estradiol (R = 0.649, p = 0.001) and RER positively correlated with insulin (R = 0.525, p = 0.010). In women, RMR positively correlated with insulin (R = 0.570, p = 0.006), but RER was not significantly correlated with hormones (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Segmental evaluation of body composition, specifically in the lower extremities and abdomen, may be an effective and efficient way to evaluate metabolic status. Sex-specific evaluations are also imperative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Physiology Lab, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, 209 Fetzer Hall, CB# 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA

    K. R. Hirsch, A. E. Smith-Ryan, M. N. M. Blue, M. G. Mock & E. T. Trexler

  2. Human Movement Science Curriculum, Department of Allied Health Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    K. R. Hirsch, A. E. Smith-Ryan, M. N. M. Blue & E. T. Trexler

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  1. K. R. Hirsch
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  2. A. E. Smith-Ryan
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  3. M. N. M. Blue
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  4. M. G. Mock
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  5. E. T. Trexler
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Correspondence to A. E. Smith-Ryan.

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Funding

This study was funded by Scivation, Inc., Burlington, NC. The project described was also supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant KL2TR001109. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

All procedures were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Hirsch, K.R., Smith-Ryan, A.E., Blue, M.N.M. et al. Influence of segmental body composition and adiposity hormones on resting metabolic rate and substrate utilization in overweight and obese adults. J Endocrinol Invest 40, 635–643 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0616-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0616-z

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