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Recent studies suggest that the Trp64Arg mutation of β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) gene may contribute to obesity and altered carbohydrate metabolism through altering basal metabolic rate and/or abdominal adiposity. Our aim was to quantitate the effect of this mutation on a number of clinical parameters in an elderly Australian general population (429 women, 257 men; mean age 69.8 [SD 6.9] years). The relative frequencies of heterozygote carriers of the mutation (Het) were 13.8% and 14.8% in female and male, respectively. The frequency of the Het was increased in overweight females (body mass index (BMI) <27: 11 %, BMI≥27:20%, p=0.02). Significant effects of this gene were only observed in females. The female Het had significantly higher total body weight (67.5±12.9 vs 64.1±12.2 kg, p=0.03), BMI (26.3±4.7 vs 25.1±4.5 kg/m 2, p=0.03) and diastolic blood pressure, even after adjustment for age and …