Comparison of Predictive Equations and Measured Resting Energy Expenditure Among Obese Youth Attending a Pediatric Healthy Weight Clinic

Abstract

The potential to either overestimate or underestimate calorie needs in the clinical setting is significant when comparing EE derived from predictive equations with that measured using portable indirect calorimetry. While our findings suggest that the Harris-Benedict equation has improved accuracy relative to other equations in severely obese youth, the potential for error remains sufficiently great to suggest that indirect calorimetry is preferred.