In the classical studies of undernutrition in man, reviewed by Lusk (1921), the basal metabolism was found to be reduced whether it was expressed in terms of heat production/sq.m. of body surface or of heat production/kg. body-weight. The percentage fall in basal metabolism was, however, greater when it was calculated with reference to the surface area than when calculated in terms of heat production/kg. body-weight. This discrepancy was not discussed by Lusk who was concerned mainly with

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... g attention to the fact that energy production in the starvation state is reduced below normal. EXPERIMENTAL Selection of subjects Studies of energy metabolism in severely undernourished persons in Holland in 1945 and in Germany in 1946 revealed great discrepancies between the levels of basal metabolism when these were expressed in terms of heat production/sq.m. of body surface and of heat production/kg. body-weight. It appeared that the discrepancies increased with increased weight loss. We were unable at the end of our first study in 1945 t p decide which method of expressing the basal metabolism was the better index of the rate of tissue oxidation. In Germany we were able to study a group of young adults who, with one exception, were between the ages of 21 and 3 I years. During a preliminary period of observation lasting 4 weeks, forty men between 20 and 40 years of age were studied while living on a diet containing not more than 1750 Cal./day and identical with that consumed during the preceding 3 months. By gradual elimination of subjects who had some clinical evidence of organic disease or a recent history of tuberculosis, at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.