Assessment of energy expenditure in children and adolescents

This is a review on recent studies regarding methodological aspects of assessment of energy expenditure in children and adolescents.

A variety of methods used for assessment of different components of energy expenditure has been validated and used in children and adolescents. Reference values derived from representative groups of healthy children and adolescents are now available. Variations in the different components of energy expenditure and physical activity have been proposed to be associated with weight gain, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. However, recent cross-sectional and longitudinal data in children and adolescents do not provide strong evidence for this idea. In contrast, hypermetabolism, which is frequently seen in critically ill children, may contribute to their tissue catabolism. In this case beta blockade seems to be a way to increase 'metabolic economy' and thus to reduce tissue catabolism. In chronically ill children and adolescents (e.g. patients with cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia) energy expenditure is also frequently increased and group specific algorithms are needed for predicting energy expenditure when measurement facilities are not available.

Methods for assessment of the different components of energy expenditure have been validated in children and adolescents. The combined use of these methods together with detailed analyses of body composition is recommended for future studies. In patients with acute or chronic illness measurements of energy expenditure are necessary if disease-specific algorithms are not available.