The associations of resting metabolic rate with chronic conditions and weight loss

Summary The aim of this study was to examine the associations between baseline and changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR) with chronic condition(s) and weight loss (WL). Sex stratified analysis was undertaken on 393 adults from the Wharton Weight Management Clinics. The association between baseline RMR and WL was examined adjusting for age, BMI, ethnicity and treatment time. The association between changes in RMR (ΔRMR) and WL was also examined adjusting for baseline RMR and above covariates. Models were further adjusted for high glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and low high‐density lipoprotein (HDL). While men (6.0 ± 8.6 kg) and women (5.6 ± 8.3 kg) had significant WL throughout the intervention, their measured decreases in RMR (−48 ± 322 kcal and −5 ± 322 kcal, respectively) were non‐significant (P > 0.05). Individuals with a high blood pressure had a higher baseline RMR and women with a high LDL had a lower baseline RMR than those without the chronic condition (P < 0.05). Regardless of sex, WL was not significantly associated with baseline RMR or ΔRMR (P > 0.05) in both models. Participants with a low baseline RMR do not appear to be at a disadvantage for WL. Further, WL can occur without decreases in RMR in populations with high levels of obesity and obesity‐related comorbidities.