NUT 301: PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN

NUTRITION

MEASUREMENT AND ESTIMATION OF ENERGY

EXPENDITURE AND ENERGY REQUIREMENTS

DR. O. T. ADEPOJU
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Energy intake: is the total amount of calories taken in from consumption of carbohydrate,
protein, fat and alcohol.
Energy Output: is the amount of energy expended for basic body functions, physical
activity, and processing of food.
Energy Balance: is obtained by comparing energy intakes with energy expenditure
People in energy equilibrium maintain a relatively constant weight.
When energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, the person is having positive energy
balance, the excess being stored as fat and glycogen.
Pregnant women and growing children require positive energy balance to increase energy
stores.
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Positive energy balance resulting from overeating and inactivity leads to
unnecessary/unneeded weight gain. Taking in less energy than needed results in negative
energy balance
The body uses the stored glycogen and fat as well as break down body protein if deficit is
extreme, leading to loss of body weight. Body weight change reflects overall energy
balance.
The energy content of a food is measured using bomb calorimeter. Carbohydrates yields
approx. 4 Kcal/g, Protein = 4 Kcal/g, Pure fat yields 9 Kcal/g, while pure alcohol yields 7
Kcal/g. Energy value of a food can be estimated using its carbohydrate, protein and fat
content (Metabolisable energy). Energy density (Kcal/g), balance of energy source, and
the form affect the amount of food eaten by individuals.
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Energy output takes place through energy expenditure. Energy is expended on:
1. Maintenance of basic physiological functions such as breathing and blood circulation,
2. Processing of food eaten, and 3. Powering physical activity.
Energy is also expended in supporting growth, keeping warm in cold environments,
metabolise drugs, keeping and dealing with physical trauma, fever, and psychological
stress.
The sum of all energy expenditure is the Total Energy Expenditure (TEE).
Energy is expended on basal metabolic processes in the form of Resting Energy
Expenditure (REE) for maintaining heartbeat, respiration, nervous function, muscle tone,
body temperature etc.
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Resting energy expenditure accounts for 60 to 75% of total energy expenditure.

The rate of energy expended at rest (Kcal/Hour) is measured as either basal metabolic rate
(BMR) or the resting metabolic rate (RMR). Basal energy expenditure (BEE) or resting
energy expenditure is the energy expended in a 24-h period.
BMR can be measured when
1. The person is lying at rest
2. The person just awakens from normal overnight sleep,
3. 10 to 12 hours after the person’s last meal,
4. No physical activity has taken place.
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Resting metabolic rate tends to be higher than BMR, and is usually measured 3 to 4 hours
after eating or a person does significant physical work.
Depending on physical activity of individuals (sedentary or athlete in training), energy
expended on physical activity accounts for 15 to 30% of total energy expenditure.
The energy cost of an activity depends on its nature/type (walking, running, typing,
farming and so on), duration, and intensity.
Body size also affect energy cost, the bigger the body size, the more the energy cost to
move it.
Energy expended on digestion, absorption and metabolism of nutrient are called “thermic
effect of food (TEF)”. For a typical mixed diet, TEF accounts for about 10% of total
energy expenditure.
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1. Direct Calorimetry: involves measuring the heat loss by a body using a chamber which
measures temperature change in a surrounding layer of water. It is expensive and complex.
• 2. Indirect Calorimetry: measures or estimates energy expenditure from a person’s oxygen
consumption and carbon (IV) oxide production. Respiratory gases are collected. It is
cumbersome.
• 3. Doubly Labelled Water: This is an indirect calorimetric method involving measuring
isotopes of hydrogen (Deuterium) and oxygen (18O) in water excreted by a person who swallows
a small quantity of two kinds of water H218O and D2O.

 The body excretes 18O as part of water and C18O2, while it excretes 2D as part of water. The
difference between the rate of deuterium loss and 18O loss is used to calculate carbon dioxide
output and determine the total energy expenditure.
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The doubly labeled water technique is non invasive and unobstrusive.
It typically lasts 7 to 14 days or longer.
However, the technique is not widely available, and it is expensive.
Estimation of Total Energy Expenditure
Direct measurement of a person’s total energy expenditure requires sophisticated equipment
which is accessible to few researchers.
Calculated estimates of energy needs are used for most people. Estimated Resting Energy
Expenditure (REE) for adults, 1kcal/kg and 0.9kcal/kg body weight estimates are used for
men and women respectively.
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The abbreviated method to estimate REE for men and women are: Adult Men: REE =
Weight (KG) x 1.0 kcal/kg x 24hr/day (i.e. weight x 1.0 x 24)
Adult Women: REE = Weight x 0.9 x 24).
The abbreviated method estimates only REE. This method underestimates children’s REE
and overestimate elderly REE.
To determine total energy expenditure (TEE), energy for physical activity and thermic effect
of food must be included.
Energy expended in physical activity can be estimated as percentage of REE of individuals.
The thermic effect of food can be estimated as roughly 10% of the sum of REE plus energy
expended in physical activity.
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Addition of REE, physical activity and thermic effect of food (TEF) yield total energy
expenditure.
The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for energy is referred to as Estimated Energy Requirements
(EERs). EER is the energy intake predicted to maintain energy balance in a healthy person of
normal weight.
EER equations for adults predict total energy expenditure from age, height, weight, gender, and
physical activity level.
Estimated Energy Requirements for adults is given by equation:
Male: EER = 662 – (9.53 x age (year)) + PA x [15.91 x weight (Kg) + 539.6 x Height (m)]
Where PA = Physical activity = 1.0 for Sedentary, 1.11 for Low active, 1.25 for Active, and 1.48
for Very active.
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Female
EER = 354 – (6.91 x age (year) + PA [9.36 x weight (Kg) + 726 x Height (m)]
PA = 1.0 for Sedentary, 1.12 for Low active, 1.27 for Active, and 1.45 for Very active.
Example of estimating EER
An adult female aged 30years weighs 50kg with an height of 1.65m. Calculate her (1) EER,
(2) TEE per day if she is a sedentary worker.
Solution:
(1). EER = 354 – (6.91 x age (year) + PA [9.36 x weight (Kg) + 726 x Height (m)]
= 354 – (6.91 x 30) + 1 x [(9.36 x 50) + (726 x 1.65)] kcal/day
= 354 – 207.3 + (468 + 1,197.9) kcal/day = (146.7 + 1,665.9) kcal/day = 1,812.6 Kcal/day
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• (2). Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) = REE + PA + TEF

• REE = Weight x 0.9 kcal/hr x 24hours = 50 x 0.9 x 24 kcal/day = 1,080 kcal/day
• Energy on physical activity (light to moderate activity = 45% = 0.45 of REE)
• PA = (0.45 x 1,080) Kcal = 486 Kcal.
• Thermic effect of food = 10% (REE + PA) = 0.1 x (1,080 + 486) = 156.6 Kcal
• TEE = 1,080 + 486 + 156.6) Kcal/day
• = 1,722.6 Kcal/day.
• Separate equations are developed for infants, children, and teens; and adjustments are
made for pregnancy and lactation.
ENERGY COST OF ACTIVITIES (KCAL/H/KG BODY WEIGHT)

• Aerobics: Light 3.0 Moderate 5.0 Heavy 8.0

• Bicycling: Leisurely 4.0 Light 6.0 Moderate 8.0 Fast 10 Racing 12.0
• Sleeping 1.2 Studying, reading, Writing 1.8
• Cooking/Food preparation 2.5
• Running: Jogging 7.0, Running 8.0, Running fast 10.0, 11.5, 13.5, 15.0, 16.0
• Walking: Strolling 2.0, Moderate pace (Level ground) 3.5,
Moderate pace (Uphill) 6.0, Brisk pace 4.0, Very brisk pace 4.5