How do you calculate estimated energy requirement?

Calculating Estimated Energy Requirement (EER)

The Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) represents the average dietary energy intake that is predicted to maintain energy balance in a healthy adult of a certain age, gender, weight, height, and level of physical activity, consistent with good health. Energy balance means that energy intake (from food) equals energy expenditure (from basal metabolic rate, digestion, and physical activity).

Here's a step-by-step guide to calculating EER:

Calculate Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE)

BEE is an estimation of how much energy (in calories) your body needs at rest. One commonly used method to calculate BEE is the Harris-Benedict equation:

For men:

BEE=88.362+(13.397×weight in kg)+(4.799×height in cm)−(5.677×age in years)

For women:

BEE=447.593+(9.247×weight in kg)+(3.098×height in cm)−(4.330×age in years)

Determine Physical Activity Level (PAL)

PAL is a way to express a person's daily physical activity as a factor of BEE. Here are some general guidelines:

• Sedentary (little to no exercise): 1.2
• Lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days a week): 1.375
• Moderately active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days a week): 1.55
• Very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week): 1.725
• Super active (very hard exercise/sports and a physical job): 1.9

Calculate EER:

Multiply the BEE by the PAL value to get the EER:

EER=BEE×PAL

Example:

Let's calculate the EER for a 30-year-old woman who is 160 cm tall, weighs 60 kg, and is moderately active.

Calculate BEE using Harris-Benedict equation for women:

BEE=447.593+(9.247×60)+(3.098×160)−(4.330×30)

BEE=447.593+554.82+495.68−129.9=1368.193 kcal/day

Determine PAL:

Since she's moderately active, PAL=1.55

Calculate EER:

EER=1368.193×1.55=2120.7 kcal/day

So, this 30-year-old woman requires approximately 2120.7 kcal per day to maintain her current weight, given her level of physical activity.

EER in infants and children :

Estimated energy requirements for special groups

Energy requirements in few early years of life are quite high due to rapid growth and development. Large proportion of BMR 60-70% idles dedicated to development and support of brain 🧠. Following table indicates energy requirements of infants and children.

Energy values devoted to growth

Age of infant	Energy devoted to growth
First month	35%
12 month	3%
In puberty	4%

Estimated energy requirement(kcal/day) of infants and young children

Age		EER=TEE +energy deposition
0-3 month		EER=(89multiply weight in Kg -100)+175
4-6 month		EER=(89multiply weight in Kg -100)+56
7-12 month		EER=(89multiply weight in Kg -100)+22
13-35 month		EER=(89multiply weight in Kg -100)+20

Approximate caloric account from birth to 18

Age(year)	kcal/lb
Infant
0-0.5	33.4
0.6-1.0	35.6
Children
1-2	36.2

Age(year)	Male (kcal/lb)	Female (kcal/ib)
3-8	32	29.7
9-13	26-3	23.8
14-18	24	19.3

EER in pregnancy and lactation :

Pregnancy and gestation is the time during which one or more offspring develops inside a woman womb. It lasts for 38-42 weeks. Additional nutrients and energy needs arise to support the metabolic needs of pregnant women and fetal growth.

 In the singleton pregnancy, metabolism increases by an average of 15% with wider variations particularly in the third trimester. Lactation also increases the energy and nutrients requirements. Following table provides guidelines to estimate the energy need of pregnant and lactating mothers.

Estimate energy requirement in pregnant lactating mother

Pregnancy	None pregnant EER +pregnancy energy deposition in kcal
1st Trimester	EER= Non - pregnant women EER+0
2ndTrimester	EER= Non - pregnant women EER+340
3rd Trimester	EER= Non - pregnant women EER+450
Lactation	Non preganant EER + milk energy output- weight loss
0-6 month postpartum	EER=Non - pregnant women EER+ 500-170
7-12 month postpartum	EER=Non - pregnant women EER+400-0

Prenatal weight gain:

Weight gain during pregnancy is an important factor in determining the health, well-being, growth and development of the fetus. If female is underweight before conception, insufficient weight gain is associated with higher risk of small for gestational babies and spontaneous preterm deliveries. While excessive weight gain results in large for gestational age.

 Best outcome of pregnancy are expected when gestational weight gain falls within the recommended range which is affected by pregnancy BMI as tabulated below.

 Prenatal weight gain goals;

Pre- pregnant Total singleton Weekly weight gain (Kg) in 2nd
weight category	weight gain (Kg)	and 3rd trimester foe singletons
Under weight (BMI<18.5)	12-18	0.51 (0,44-0.58)
Normal weight(BMI 18.5-24.9)	11.5-16	0.42 (0.33-0.50)
Overweight(BMI25.0-29.9)	7-11.5	0.28 (0.23-0.33)
obese(BMI 30.0)	5-9	0.22 (0.17-0.27)

Usually, during singleton pregnancy in normal weight woman, less than 50% of total weight gain is attributed to placenta, fetus and amniotic fluid.

 The remainder of the increased weight is contributed by growth in maternal reproductive tissue. Increased amount of subcutaneous fat deposited on the back, abdomen and upper thighs serve as energy reserves during pregnancy and lactation. The following table provides a guideline for weight distribution during pregnancy.

Organs	Weight in Kg
Fetus	3.41-3.86
Store of fat and protein	3.41
Blood	1.82
Tissue fluid	1.23
Uterus	0.91
Placenta and umbilical cord	0.68
Amniotic fluid	0.82
Breast	0.45

Estimated kcal needs during injury and illness :

For Calculating the energy requirements of ill and injured individuals following equation can be helpful :

Kcal requirement = BMR ✖ activity factor ✖                                              injury factor

Activity and injury factor during illness and injury 

Activity	Factor
Confined to bed	1.2
seated and little movement	1.4-1.5
Injury	Factor
Blunt trauma burns	1.25-1.5
0.20%	1-1.5
20-40%	1.5-1.85
40-100%	1.85-2.05
Bones fracture	1.1-1.3
sipsis	1.2-1.4

"The estimated energy requirements EAR is the amount of a nutrients that is estimated to meet the requirements for a specific criterion of adequacy of half of the healthy individual of a specific age and life stage" .Estimated average requirements EARs of energy through the life course :

The EAR is increased by about 20% to estimate the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The RDA is" the average daily dietary intake levels sufficient to meet the nutrients requirement of nearly all (97-98%) healthy person in particular life stage or gender".

Another term Adequate intake (AI) is used when there is insufficient scientific evidence to set EAR and RDA. AI  " gives the estimate of intake levels of healthy populations.

Lastly, the tolerance upper level UL is the highest level of a nutrients daily intake that will most likely present no adverse health effects in almost all individuals in the general population. 

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