Relationship between resting metabolic rate and percent body fat in a college population

The purpose of this study was to re-examine the relationship between resting metabolic rate and body composition relative to Passmore's prediction. He had proposed that percent body fat acts directly to lower resting metabolic rate by about 1% for each 1% increase in body fat. Ninety-two subjects participated in the data collection process. All volunteers were assessed for resting metabolic rate and percent body fat. Furthermore, a brief health history, activity level, and dietary analysis were completed. Statistical analyses were calculated for all anthropometric measures and all expressions of resting metabolic rate. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship between resting metabolic rate and percent body fat. A correlation coefficient of r= -0.353 was not significant. However, the results were in agreement with Passmore's suggestion of a decrease in resting metabolic rate as body fat increases. Given the results, it is recommended that future studies utilize the longitudinal approach to data collection in order to establish and quantify the relationship between resting metabolic rate and percent body fat.