Alterations in resting metabolic rate as a consequence of 20 wk of endurance training: the HERITAGE Family Study

This study determined the effects of endurance exercise training on the resting metabolic rate (RMR). It was hypothesized that the RMR would be increased posttraining, but that this increase would reflect the influence of the last exercise bout, not a chronic adaptation to exercise training. Seventy-four subjects (40 men and 37 women) aged 17–63 y participated in a 20-wk endurance training program. RMR and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were each measured on 2 separate days both pre- and posttraining; the posttraining RMR measurements were taken 24 and 72 h after the last exercise bout. There were small but significant changes posttraining in relative body fat (−1.0%), fat mass (−0.6 kg), and fat-free mass (0.7 kg) and a 17.9% increase in VO2max. The RMR remained unchanged posttraining, both 24 and 72 h after the last exercise bout, even when the data were adjusted to account for the potential confounding effects of age, sex, body composition, and VO2max. In conclusion, 20 wk of endurance exercise training had no effect on the RMR even in the presence of small changes in body composition and a large increase in VO2max. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68:66–71