The major purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometric measurements, body composition and basal metabolic rate (BMR) between young females with normal body weight and with various degree of obesity. Twenty nine young females (ranged from 19 to 29 years old) were divided into three groups, based on the percentage of ideal body weight (%IBW): normal weight group (n=14) with 90-107%IBW, mildly obesed group (n=7) with 122-129%IB W and moderately obesed group (n=8) with 140-156%IBW. Data among three groups were compared by one-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls test. The anthropometric measurements were measured by Lange skinfold caliper. The body composition and the basal metabolic rate were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA; Biodynamics model 310). The results indicated that: (1) the triceps skinfold of normal weight females was 18.3±0.8mm which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than mildly obesed (27.1±1.5mm) and moderately obesed groups (31.8±1.7mm); (2)the percent body fat (%fat) of normal weight females was 25.3±0.7% which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than mildly obesed (32.4±0.9%) and moderately obesed groups (38.6±0.7%); and (3)the BMR of normal weight females was 1201±27Kcal/day which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than mildly obesed (1381±36Kcal/day) and moderately obesed groups (1521±52Kcal/ day). However, the basal metabolic rate per unit body weight (BMR/BW) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the obesed groups. Therefore, the obesed females were hypometabolic as compared with the normal weight females.
The major purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometric measurements, body composition and basal metabolic rate (BMR) between young females with normal body weight and with various degree of obesity. Twenty nine young females (ranged from 19 to 29 years old) were divided into three groups, based on the percentage of ideal body weight (%IBW): normal weight group (n=14) with 90-107%IBW, mildly obesed group (n=7) with 122-129%IB W and moderately obesed group (n=8) with 140-156%IBW. Data among three groups were compared by one-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls test. The anthropometric measurements were measured by Lange skinfold caliper. The body composition and the basal metabolic rate were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA; Biodynamics model 310). The results indicated that: (1) the triceps skinfold of normal weight females was 18.3±0.8mm which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than mildly obesed (27.1±1.5mm) and moderately obesed groups (31.8±1.7mm); (2)the percent body fat (%fat) of normal weight females was 25.3±0.7% which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than mildly obesed (32.4±0.9%) and moderately obesed groups (38.6±0.7%); and (3)the BMR of normal weight females was 1201±27Kcal/day which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than mildly obesed (1381±36Kcal/day) and moderately obesed groups (1521±52Kcal/ day). However, the basal metabolic rate per unit body weight (BMR/BW) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the obesed groups. Therefore, the obesed females were hypometabolic as compared with the normal weight females.