Resting Energy Expenditure is Overpredicted in Midlife Females: Examining the Accuracy of Predictive Equations and the Role of Lean Soft Tissue in Perimenopause

BACKGROUND: indirect calorimetry to predicted REE from common equations in perimenopausal women. The secondary purpose was to examine the effect of LST on differences between mREE and metabolic equations. METHODS: REE was assessed using indirect calorimetry in 45 perimenopausal females. Estimated REE was calculated from Cunningham (C), De-Lorenzo (DL), Harris-Benedict (HB), Mifflin St. Jeor (MS), Molnar (M), and ten Haaf (TH) equations. LST (kg) was determined using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. mREE vs estimated were compared using a mixed-model ANOVA. A linear regression was used to examine the effect of LST on predictive equations and mREE. RESULTS: = 0.99) equations most closely predicted REE. LST accounted for 1.1-2.2% range of variance in REE. CONCLUSIONS: Estimated REE significantly overestimated caloric expenditure compared to mREE by an average of ∼215 kcals/day, with some equations (MS, M) more accurately estimating REE in perimenopausal women. The MS equation may be most beneficial for REE estimates in midlife women. LST may not be driving differences between mREE and predictive equations.