RESUMO
The purposes of this study were to measure the resting metabolic rate(RMR) of 30-40 year old women and to compare it with values predicted using published equations. Body weight, height and body fat of subjects were measured. RMR was measured by two indirect calorimeter(method 1 and method 2). RMR was predicted using various equations. Average height, weight and body fat(%) of subjects were 158.6cm, 59.1kg and 30.9%, respectively. The RMR(1621.2+/-301.5 kcal/day) measured by portable indirect calorimeter(method 2) was significantly higher than RMR(1447.4+/-223.6 kcal/day) measured by typical indirect calorimeter(method 1). Comparison of measured RMR with predicted RMRs suggested that there was a least difference in RMR predicted by equation of Cunningham. According to RMSPEs(Root Mean Squared Prediction Errors), equations of Cunningham and body surface area were found to predict measured RMR(by method 1) most accurately (within 239.1kcal/day and 232.9kcal/day, respectively). The fat free mass and fat mass - adjusted correlation showed that measured RMR(by method 1) had negative relationships with muscle mass(r = -0.873) and fat free mass(r = -0.866). The equations of Cunningham and body surface area provide relatively accurate estimates of RMR when determining energy needs of 30-40 aged women. There are needs for development of RMR predicted equations that are derived from large samples of Korean.