New Predictive Equations for Resting Energy Expenditure in Normal to Overweight and Obese Population

The unique demographic and dietary characteristics of modern Arabic population require development of a new predictive equation for the estimation of resting energy expenditure (REE). This study presented new equations characteristic to Saudi population.

A set of predictive equations for REE was derived for 427 healthy male and female subjects (aged 18-57 ± 14 years). REE was measured (REEm) by indirect calorimetry (IC) and predicted (REEp) using nine equations. REEp was compared with REEm to determine the predictive accuracy of these equations. Using IC and anthropometrics for stepwise linear regression analysis, a new set of equations to predict REE of men and women was developed. Accuracy of the new main equations was further tested in an external sample of 48 subjects (men = 50%).

Using a number of parameters (bias, underprediction, overprediction, and % accurate prediction), our results suggested that almost all (9/9 in men and 7/9 in women) equations either underpredicted or overpredicted (2/9) REE. None of the already existing equations showed an acceptable REEp/REEm difference as low as 5% and an accurate prediction (∼55%) at the individual level. Based on these findings, a new prediction equation (hereafter referred to as the Almajwal-Abulmeaty (AA) equation) was developed using this study's data, after a rigorous stepwise regression analysis using the following formula: REE = 3832.955 + AdjWt (kg) × 48.037 - Ht (cm) × 30.642 + gender × 141.268 - age (years) × 4.525 [AdjWt is Adjusted body weight = (Wt - IBW)/4 + IBW. IBW is Ideal body weight; for men IBW = (Ht(cm) - 152.4) × 1.0714) + 45.36 and for women IBW = (Ht(cm)-152.4) × 0.8928) + 45.36]. The regression model accounted for approximately 70% of the variance in REEm (R ² = 0.702).

Previous equations likely over- or underpredicted REE. Therefore, the new predictive AA equations developed in this study are recommended for the estimation of REE in young to middle-aged Saudi men and women with different body mass indexes. Future research is also required for further clinical and cross-validation of these new equations.