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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #68104
Title: PREDICTING ENERGY NEEDS IN WOMEN

Author
item Siders, William
item Lukaski, Henry
item KRAUSE, DEBORAH - U NORTH DAKOTA
item MATTHYS, LORI - U NORTH DAKOTA

Submitted to: North Dakota Academy of Science Proceedings
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Little information exists about the accuracy of old energy requirement formulas for predicting daily energy needs of women today. We studied women, aged 18 to 82, for three months after an initial month of weight stabilization to determine the energy requirements to maintain their body weights. The 1919 Harris and Benedict formula closely predicted energy needs in women between the ages of 18 and 60. The 1985 World Health Organization formulae closely predicted energy needs in women 30 years of age and older. We proposed a new, single prediction formula for women 18 years of age and older. This new formula will facilitate the accurate prediction of energy needs in women.

Technical Abstract: One hundred and fifty women, aged 18 to 82 years, were studied for an additional 120 days after a 30-day weight stabilization period to determine daily energy requirements to maintain their body weights. We found that, while the 1919 Harris and Benedict formula accurately predicted energy needs for women aged 18 to 60 years, the 1985 World Health Organization formulae accurately predicted energy needs for women greater age 30 years. We computed a formula from our observations to predict energy requirements in women 18 years of age and older. This formula will facilitate the accurate prediction of energy needs in women.