RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRIC INDEXES OF BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION AND BASAL ENERGY-METABOLISM IN HEALTHY MALTESE WOMEN

A sample taken from a population (Maltese) with a high incidence of th e metabolic complications of central obesity was studied to determine: (1) whether the standard Schofield equations adequately predict the b asal metabolic rate (BMR) in this population; (2) whether the Maltese have a greater tendency for central obesity compared with other popula tions; (3) whether the distribution of body fat influences energy expe nditure and fuel selection. Healthy women responding to a public adver tisement were sampled randomly from the Maltese population. Correlatio n analysis and analysis of variance were used to study relationships b etween BMR and body composition. Anthropometric parameters (including body fat distribution indices, bioimpedance) and BMR were measured aft er an overnight fast. Six percent of the respondents were excluded bec ause of recent illness, instability of diet or of body weight. Fifty s ubjects attended a clinic at the Medical School. The distribution of e xcess fat between central and peripheral areas in the Maltese populati on was similar to that reported for the British population. The Waist- hip ratio (WHR) reflected neither basal heat production (BMR) nor the contribution of fat oxidation to BMR. The Schofield equations systemat ically underestimated BMR by 5.4%+/-0.86% (P<0.05). The study suggests a limitation in using the Schofield equations for predicting BMR in t he female Maltese population studied. It also suggests that the fat di stribution between central acid peripheral areas in this population ha s no effect on BMR.