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Objective: To compare the resting metabolic rates (RMRs) of adults with and without DS while controlling for potential confounds., Design: Observational, cross-sectional study., Setting: Outpatient core of the New York Obesity Research Center., Subjects: Thirteen adults (nine males and four females) with DS were compared to 77 adults without DS., Measurements: RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry. Fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) were determined using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Thyroid function (thyroxin, T3 uptake, and free T4) were determined from fasting blood samples for all DS subjects and a subset of the controls., Results: An analysis of covariance was conducted in which DS status was the independent variable. Covariates were sex, FFM, FM, age, and T4. After controlling for sex, FFM, FM, age, and height, persons with DS had lower RMRs than persons without DS (F(1,83) = 7.697, P = 0.007; eta = 0.29). In terms of kcalories, the adjusted means were 1333.5 for DS subjects and 1670.1 for non-DS subjects, a difference of 20.8% relative to the grand mean. When thyroxine was added to the regression the effect of DS on RMR was of questionable significance., Conclusion: This research demonstrates that persons with DS have lower RMRs than do persons without DS. This difference persists after controlling for obvious confounds and was of a moderate magnitude.

Objective: To provide a randomized placebo-controlled trial to determine the efficacy of an auricular acupressure device., Design: Subjects were randomly assigned to either treatment or placebo. The treatment group received the acupressure device and were instructed to use the device in their dominant ear. The placebo group received an acupressure device for their wrist. Participants were followed for 12 weeks., Setting: Outpatient core of the New York Obesity Research Center., Subjects: 96 obese adult volunteers, 80 females and 16 males, between 19 and 70 years of age., Measurements: Weight, body fat, and blood pressure measured every two weeks., Results: All subjects combined lost, on average, 0.96 kg. There was no significant difference between the two groups on weight loss (mean wt loss = 1.28 [s.d. = 2.74] kg for treatment and 0.63 [s.d. = 3.26] kg for placebo) regardless of whether all subjects were examined or only the most compliant subjects were examined. Similarly, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding fat loss or blood pressure reduction., Conclusion: The acupressure device appears to be a safe device (did not cause any harmful side effects). However, it did not promote significantly greater weight or fat loss, or declines in blood pressure than placebo.