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Updated: May 13, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Adults in all body mass index categories underestimate daily energy requirements
Lauren B Headrick1, Cassie C Rowe, Ashley R Kendall
1Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Objective:
To compare the difference between self-reported and calculated daily energy requirements of adults within different body mass index (BMI) categories.
Methods:
Adults (n = 978) self-reported daily energy requirements, demographic information, and height, weight, age, and physical activity level (PAL) to calculate total energy expenditure.
Results:
The main effects of BMI, gender, PAL, and dieting status on the difference between self-reported and calculated energy requirements for weight maintenance were significant (P < .05); age, race/ethnicity, level of education, and being in a health-related field had no effect. Individuals across all BMI categories underestimated their energy requirements, but obese individuals underestimated to the greatest degree. Males, current dieters, and those who reported a low-active or active PAL underestimated to the greatest extent in each category.
Conclusions And Implications:
There is a lack of basic nutrition knowledge about personal energy needs in individuals across all BMI categories regardless of age, race/ethnicity, level of education, or work/training in a health-related field.
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