Medical, anthropomentric and physiological data of Burmese athletes

Male and 34 female Burmese athletes were examined between July and September 1966. The Olympic Medical Archives Examination Form was used. Data on personal history, anthropometry, physiological and biochemical measurements and gynaecology are presented in 63 tables.

The basal metabolic rate of the Burmese

The basal metabolism of 180 males and 236 females was studied. In the male 15 and above age group, the percentage deviation from both the Du Bois and the Mayo Foundation standards was found to be negative, weather the BMRI or the Du Bois Body Surface Area formula was used. In the 5 to 9 year and the 10 to 14 year male groups, the percentage deviation from the Du Bois and the Mayo Foundation standards were positive when the Du Bois formula was used. It shifted to the negative side when the BMRI nomogram was used. In the case females in all age groups, the percentage deviations were positive whether the body surface area standard of Du Bois or the BMRI was used. It was also found that neither the Aub and Du Bois nor the Mayo Foundation standard can be used for Burmese subjects. Therefore, a fresh standard for the Burmese was drawn for use as an interim measure in Burma before data on large sample of the population were obtained.

Body surface area of Burmese subjects

Body surface area of 208 males and 203 females was determined using the linear formula method of DuBois and DuBois. Surface area obtained by actual measurement is found to be greater than that calculated from the height and weight formula of DuBois and DuBois but lower than that of Banerjee, Rohatgi, Mukherjee and Sen for Indian females. A new formula to calculate the body surface area of Burmese subjects has been derived and a nomogram based on this formula has been prepared.

Energy expenditure in agricultural activities in Burma

The energy expenditure of 21 men and 8 women from the villages of Chitteegone in the Mingaladon area and Danyingone in the Insein area was studied during paddy cultivation. Three subjects of typical farmers were chosen for recording daily activities in termittently throughout the year using the diary technique of Garry, Passmore, Warnock and Durnin (1955). The mean daily energy expenditure of these subjects during various agricultural seasons was calculated. The mean metabolic cost keal/min/subject was determined on the above subjects and more than one determination were encountered on some individuals. The validity of the assessed metabolic cost for use in future energy expenditure for paddy cultivation was proved and found to be satisfactory.