Total daily energy expenditure in free-living older african -americans and caucasians. Carpenter, William H, Tekum Fonong, Michael J Toth, Philip A Ades, Jorge Calles-Escandon, Jeremy D Walston, Eric T Poehlman. Departments of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, Division of Gerontology, Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.
APStracts 4:0225E, 1997.
Low rates of daily energy expenditure, increased energy intake or a combination of both contribute to obesity in African-Americans. We examined whether African-Americans have lower rates of free-living daily energy expenditure than Caucasians. One-hundred and sixty four (>55 yr) volunteers (37 African-American women, 52 Caucasian women, 28 African-American men, and 47 Caucasian men) were characterized for total daily energy expenditure, resting metabolic rate and physical activity energy expenditure from doubly labeled water method and indirect calorimetry. Absolute total daily energy expenditure was lower in women than men, but not different between African-Americans and Caucasians. However, we found race and gender differences in total daily energy expenditure after controlling for differences in fat-free mass. Total daily energy expenditure was 10% lower (P<.01) in African-Americans compared to Caucasians, due to a 5% lower resting metabolic rate (P<.01) and 19% lower physical activity energy expenditure (P=.08). Moreover, total daily energy expenditure was 16% lower (P<.01) in women compared to men due to a 6% lower resting metabolic rate (P=.09) and a 37% lower physical activity energy expenditure (P=.06). Low rates of energy expenditure may be a predisposing factor for obesity, particularly in African-American women. 

Received 16 May 1997; accepted in final form 24 September 1997.
APS Manuscript Number E224-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 29 October 1997