Since 1963 we have been engaged in studies of basal metabolism and energy expenditure of Koreans in daily life.
This report includes further studies of variations with age, profession and activity, and especially with industry. The figures of over 2,000 determined basal metabolic rates are inclose agreement with the standard values of Boothby, Fleish, or Robertson and Reid; but, a considerable degree of fluctuation of basal metarate (B.M.R.) was observed in adults.
The iigures for B.M.R by a single determination with the Sanborn Metabulator on 1, 068 subjects are higher :han those with the Douglas bag and Scholander gas ana.lyzer. Energy expenditures during various activities were also measured in domestic life and in indusand the total daily energy expenditure culculated.
There is a considerable degree of variation in basal metabo is rates and daily energy expenditures related to the amount of activity. The main factor influencing the energy expenditure of the subjects was really their functional activities. There were not so many variations in metabolic values of similar activities between men and women, or between young and old. The undeveloped and unmechanized facilities of home life and industry. in Korea force people to work harder physically than in more highly developed countries. Therefore it is extremely important to take this factor, as well as the nutritional status, into consideration in the evaluation of the basal metabolic rate and the daily energy expenditure ofeach individual as well as of the people as a whole.
(This research has been financed in part by a grant made by the United States Department of Agriculture under P.L. 480)
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