RESUMO
There is little information supporting the common assumption that stunted children have reduced energy requirements. Previously we found that stunted Jamaican children, aged 9-24 months, have higher energy intakes per kilogram body weight than non-stunted children. We hypothesized that this may be related to differences in basal metabolism and body composition, particularly in lean body mass (LBM) which is the major determinant of resting energy expenditure (RMR). We therefore compared the RMR (using indirect calorimetry) and body composition (using anthropometry amd impedance) in 34 stunted children (S) aged 7-8 years, with two groups of non-stunted controls matched for either age and sex (A), or height and sex (H). The RMR per kilogram body weight of S (58.9ñ6.9 kcal/kg) was significantly higher than A (52.5ñ6.0 kcal/kg; p <0.001), yet lower than the height controls (64.1ñ8.kcal/kg; p <0.01). However, after controlling for sex and weight or LBM in a multiple regression analysis, the RMRs of S and A were no longer significantly different, while the younger H continued to have significantly higher RMRs (p <0.001). No significant group differences were found in the proportions of body fat and LBM to total body weight. In conclusion, the LBM of stunted and non-stunted children of the same age and sex is proportionately and functionally the same, differences in their RMRs being accounted for by size. The lower RMR of stunted children compared to younger non-stunted children of the same size and body composition may be due to age-related changes in the composition of the LBM (AU)