Predicted and measured resting energy expenditure in healthy young women

Basal energy expenditure (BEE) was either measured by indirect calorimetry or predicted by different formulae in 104 young women: 74 lean and overweight subjects (normal weight, NWt) and 30 obese subjects. The predictive equations were based on weight alone (Owen, FAO-1, Schofield-1) or on weight and height (Harris-Benedict, Mifflin, Kleiber, and again FAO-2 and Schofield-2). With the exception of the Owen equation all the equations over-estimated measured BEE in both study groups. The ratio between measured and predicted value (% MP) varied between 102.3 (Owen) and 87.7 (Kleiber) in the NWt subjects and between 113.2 (Owen) and 89.3 (Schofield-1) in the obese subjects. The range including 95% of the predicted-measured differences (PMdiff) was larger than 1700 kJ/d in the NWt group and 2300 kJ/d in the obese group. In both study groups most of the equations showed a significant relationship between PMdiff and/or % MP with body weight and the magnitude of BEE. In conclusion, these equations are of little help in predicting BEE in a single subject and should be used with caution when assessing energy requirements in populations or groups of subjects.