VARIATION OF THE BASAL METABOLIC-RATE AND DIETARY ENERGY-INTAKE OF COLOMBIAN WOMEN DURING 1 Y

Anthropometry, basal and resting metabolic rates (BMR and RMR), and dietary energy intake were measured on five occasions approximate to 3 mo apart for 1 y in 21 nonpregnant, nonlactating women 20-42 y of age living under deprived economic conditions in Call, Colombia. There was a significant increase in body weight (1-1.5 kg) because of increased body fat during the last two rounds of measurement. BMR was elevated in the first round but fell to stable values that did not vary significantly from 3 to 12 mo. The intraindividual CV of BMR was 8.3% whereas the intraindividual CV of dietary energy intake was 17%. Measured BMR was closely related to the BMR estimates provided by the empirical equations of Schofield, but significantly higher than estimates from the equations of Henry and Rees. RMR-BMR ratios were very close to those published by FAG/WHO/UNU. Autocorrelation analysis of BMR showed weak ability to predict subsequent variation of BMR over time and is consistent with random variation of the data.