[Analysis of resting metabolic rate evaluated by indirect calorimetry in obese women with low and high caloric intake].

The aim of this study was to evaluate if obese women with the lowest values of caloric intake (CI) determined by food questionnaire also present the lowest values of resting metabolic rate (RMR), which could lead to excessive weight gain, caused by changes in energy balance. With this purpose, 77 obese women, with IMC>30 kg/m2, aged 20 to 45 years, had their physical activity level and CI evaluated. According to the values of CI obtained from food intake reports, the participants were divided in 3 groups: low (G1), medium (G2), high (G3) CI and were submitted to indirect calorimetry. Height, weight, body surface area (BSA), fat free mass and fat mass measured by bioimpedance were evaluated. The highest values of weight, BSA an fat mass were obtained in G1, as well as values above 1.2 for the CI:RMR ratio, which indicates a probable underestimation of CI. The highest values of physical activity and RMR were observed in the G3 (with high caloric intake). In conclusion, this paper shows that a tendency towards underestimation of self-reported caloric intake exists among obese women and that the maintenance of weight in some patients can be due to their low level of physical activity.