The mean 24 h HR in the calorimeter was 70 beats/min with a range of 60-91 beats/min
during the daytime of the moderate regimen session. This was in agreement with the
findings of many workers, who seldom reported mean HR values of more than 90 or roo
beats/min even in active subjects. Booyens & Hervey (1960) found HR values of less
than 90 beats/min in five subjects of normal weight during lying, sitting and standing,
while Bradfield & Jourdan (1972) reported daily HR values of between 81 and 93 beats/
min in six obese women. In addition, Poleman et al. (1972) suggested that a Filipino
farmer might rest for 8 h of the day during the slack season, at an HR of 50 beats/min, and
work for 2 h at an average of IOO beats/min. The standard methods of prediction therefore
tend to be inappropriate for those subjects who are not involved in long periods of physical
activity. For example, Bradfield & Jourdan (1972) obtained calibration curves for obese
women before and after weight loss at HR values of 75-90, I 10-125 and 130-145 beats/min,
yet the mean daily HR was between 81 and 98 beats/min.