Measurement of body composition as a surrogate evaluation of energy balance in obese patients

Table 1 Advantages and limitations of available techniques the measurement of Energy Expenditure

Technique	Advantages	Limitations
Direct calorimetry	The gold standard method for measure EE in animal models	High complexity, high cost, need to confine the subject for almost 24 h
Indirect calorimetry	The gold standard to measure REE in humans. Non invasive, adequately accurate, highly reproducible	High cost, relatively complex, need of trained personnel
Bioelectrical impedance analysis	Non invasive, simple, adequately accurate for body composition analysis, relatively inexpensive	The estimation of EE is limited by the need of obesity-specific predictive equations
Multi-sensor device	Easy and practical to use	The estimation of EE is limited by the need of obesity-specific predictive equation

EE: Energy expenditure; REE: Resting energy expenditure.

Table 2 Most commonly proposed predictive equations for the estimation of the resting energy expenditure

	Age	Sex	Equation
Harris and Benedict (kcal/d)	15-74	Male	66.4730 + 13.7516 (W) + 5.0033 (H) – 6.7550 (A)
	15-74	Female	655.0955 + 9.5634 (W) + 1.8496 (H) – 4.6756 (A)
Schofield (MJ/die)	10-17	Male	0.074 (W) + 2.754
	10-17	Female	0.056 (W) + 2.898
	18-29	Male	0.063 (W) + 2.896
	18-29	Female	0.062 (W) + 2.036
	30-59	Male	0.048 (W) + 3.653
	30-59	Female	0.034 (W) + 3.538
	≥ 60	Male	0.049 (W) + 2.459
	≥ 60	Female	0.038 (W) + 2.755
FAO/ WHO/ UNU (MJ/d)	10-17	Male	0.0732 (W) + 2.72
	10-17	Female	0.0510 (W) + 3.12
	18-29	Male	0.0640 (W) + 2.84
	18-29	Female	0.0615 (W) + 2.08
	30-60	Male	0.0485 (W) + 3.67
	30-60	Female	0.0364 (W) + 3.47
	> 60	Male	0.0565 (W) + 2.04
	> 60	Female	0.0439 (W) + 2.49
Mifflin-St Jeor (kcal/d)	19-78	Male	10 × W + 6.25 × H – 5 × A + 5
	19-78	Female	10 × W + 6.25 × H – 5 × A – 161
Owen (kcal/d)	18-65	Male	879 + 10.2 × W
	18-65	Female	795 + 7.18 × W

To convert MJ into kcal, multiply the result by 239. W: Body weight (kg); H: Height (cm); A: Age (years).