Pat - where do you think the error in measurement of your BMR comes from?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_metabolic_rate
"BMR and RMR are measured by gas analysis through either direct or indirect
calorimetry, though a rough estimation can be acquired through an equation using age, sex, height, and weight. Studies of energy
metabolism using both methods provide convincing evidence for the validity of the
respiratory quotient(R.Q.), which measures the inherent composition and utilization of
carbohydrates,
fats and
proteins as they are converted to energy substrate units that can be used by the body as energy."
It seems to me if they are actually measuring exhaled CO2, that would be a fairly accurate measure of what you are expending. If it is just an estimate from age, sex, height and weight, that would be a different issue - that would be very variable, and I'll bet people who are or have been MO have BMRs on the low (efficient) end - we don't burn calories like normies. But I still find it hard to believe that a morbidly obese man exercising 2-3 hours a day is expending less than 1100 calories/day (BMR + exercise). I'd be willing to bet he is not cataloging ALL of his caloric intake.
Obes Surg. 2012 Aug;22(8):1257-62. doi: 10.1007/s11695-012-0651-y.
Metabolic profile of clinically severe obese patients.
Faria SL1,
Faria OP,
Menezes CS,
de Gouvêa HR,
de Almeida Cardeal M.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Since low basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a risk factor for weight regain, it is important to measure BMR before bariatric surgery. We aimed to evaluate the BMR among clinically severe obese patients preoperatively. We compared it with that of the control group, with predictive formulas and correlated it with body composition.
METHODS:
We used indirect calorimetry (IC) to collect BMR data and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance to collect body composition data. Our sample population consisted of 193 patients of whom 130 were clinically severe obese and 63 were normal/overweight individuals. BMR results were compared with the following predictive formulas: Harris-Benedict (HBE), Bobbioni-Harsch (BH), Cunningham (CUN), Mifflin-St. Jeor (MSJE), and Horie-Waitzberg & Gonzalez (HW & G). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Research of the University of Brasilia. Statistical analysis was used to compare and correlate variables.
RESULTS:
Clinically severe obese patients had higher absolute BMR values and lower adjusted BMR values (p < 0.0001). A positive correlation between fat-free mass and a negative correlation between body fat percentage and BMR were found in both groups. Among the clinically severe obesepatients, the formulas of HW & G and HBE overestimated BMR values (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0193, respectively), while the BH and CUN underestimated this value; only the MSJE formulas showed similar results to those of IC.
CONCLUSIONS:
The clinically severe obese patients showed low BMR levels when adjusted per kilogram per body weight. Body composition may influence BMR. The use of the MSJE formula may be helpful in those cases where it is impossible to use IC.