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Influence of adiposity on tonic sympathetic support of resting metabolism in healthy adults

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 1315–1318 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: β-Adrenergic receptor sympathetic nervous system (β-AR SNS) support of resting metabolic rate (RMR) is attenuated with older age, female sex, and a sedentary lifestyle. Total and abdominal adiposity and/or body fat pattern modulate some SNS-mediated physiological functions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if total and abdominal adiposity and/or body fat distribution are independently related to SNS support of RMR.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional comparison of β-AR SNS support of RMR.

SUBJECTS: A total of 54 healthy male and female subjects aged 18–75 y.

MEASUREMENTS: RMR (ventilated hood, indirect calorimetry) before (baseline) and during complete β-AR blockade; body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS: Forward stepwise multiple regression analysis using sex, exercise status, age group, %body fat, total adiposity, abdominal adiposity, and the ratio of abdominal adiposity to hip adiposity as variables revealed sex to be the strongest predictor, explaining 21% of the variability in β-AR SNS support of RMR (P=0.0006). Age group explained an additional 4% and exercise status a further 4% (both P=0.10). %Body fat, total adiposity, abdominal adiposity, and the ratio of abdominal adiposity to hip adiposity did not enter the equation.

CONCLUSION: Total and abdominal adiposity and body fat pattern are not independent physiological determinants of β-AR SNS support of RMR among healthy men and women. Moreover, further support is provided for our previous finding of attenuated β-AR SNS support of RMR with age, female sex, and sedentary lifestyle.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grants AG-06537, AG-15897, AG-00828, and DK-07658, and by the American Heart Association Grants 9920445Z, 02254382, and CWFW-0298.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

    C Bell, D S Petitt, P P Jones & D R Seals

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA

    D R Seals

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  1. C Bell
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  2. D S Petitt
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  3. P P Jones
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  4. D R Seals
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Correspondence to C Bell.

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Bell, C., Petitt, D., Jones, P. et al. Influence of adiposity on tonic sympathetic support of resting metabolism in healthy adults. Int J Obes 27, 1315–1318 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802413

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