🍽️nutrition assessment review
7.3 Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) Calculation
5 min read•Last Updated on July 30, 2024
Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) is the sum of energy used by our bodies daily. It includes basal metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, and physical activity energy expenditure. Understanding TEE is crucial for creating personalized nutrition plans and managing weight effectively.
Calculating TEE involves various methods, from doubly labeled water to predictive equations. Factors like age, sex, body composition, and physical activity influence TEE. Accurate TEE estimation helps in developing tailored nutrition strategies for weight management and athletic performance.
Total Energy Expenditure Components
Composition and Definition
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- Total energy expenditure (TEE) is the sum of the energy used by the body for all physiological functions and physical activities over a 24-hour period
- TEE is composed of three main components:
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
- Energy required to maintain vital functions at rest
- Accounts for the largest portion of TEE (60-75%)
- Thermic effect of food (TEF)
- Also known as diet-induced thermogenesis
- Energy expended in processing and storing nutrients after consuming food
- Usually accounts for 10-15% of TEE
- Physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE)
- Most variable component of TEE
- Includes energy expended during all forms of physical activity (activities of daily living, structured exercise)
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT)
- Subcomponent of PAEE that encompasses energy expended through non-exercise activities
- Fidgeting
- Maintaining posture
- Spontaneous muscle contractions
- Contributes to individual variability in TEE
- Can be influenced by factors such as occupation, lifestyle habits, and environment
- Increasing NEAT through simple lifestyle changes (taking stairs, standing desks) can help increase overall TEE
Calculating Total Energy Expenditure
Measurement Methods
- Doubly labeled water technique
- Most accurate method for measuring TEE
- Uses stable isotopes to track energy expenditure over an extended period
- Expensive and not practical for routine use
- Indirect calorimetry
- Measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production
- Can estimate BMR and, with activity data, provide an estimate of TEE
- Requires specialized equipment and trained personnel
- Predictive equations
- Estimate BMR based on factors like age, sex, height, and weight
- Limitations and may not be accurate for all populations
- Examples include Harris-Benedict, Mifflin-St Jeor, and Oxford equations
Predictive Equation Examples
- Harris-Benedict equation
- Men: BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × weight in kg) + (4.799 × height in cm) - (5.677 × age in years)
- Women: BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × weight in kg) + (3.098 × height in cm) - (4.330 × age in years)
- Mifflin-St Jeor equation
- Men: BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) + 5
- Women: BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) - 161
- To estimate TEE, multiply the calculated BMR by an activity factor that reflects the individual's physical activity level (PAL)
- PAL categories range from sedentary (1.2) to extremely active (2.4)
- Example: For a sedentary individual, TEE = BMR × 1.2
Factors Influencing Total Energy Expenditure
Biological Factors
- Age
- BMR typically decreases by 1-2% per decade after age 20
- Changes in body composition and metabolic processes contribute to this decline
- Sex
- Men generally have higher energy expenditure than women
- Differences attributed to greater muscle mass and lower body fat percentage in men
- Body composition
- Ratio of lean body mass to fat mass significantly impacts TEE
- Lean body mass (muscle, bone, organs) is more metabolically active than fat mass
- Higher lean body mass contributes to a higher BMR
- Hormonal factors
- Thyroid function and stress hormones (cortisol) can influence TEE
- Alterations in metabolic processes and energy balance can result from hormonal changes
Physical Activity and Exercise
- Physical activity is the most variable component of TEE
- Influenced by factors such as intensity, duration, frequency, and type of activity
- Resistance training
- Can increase TEE by promoting muscle growth and increasing BMR
- Muscle tissue is metabolically active and contributes to higher resting energy expenditure
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Can lead to greater post-exercise energy expenditure compared to steady-state cardio
- "Afterburn" effect, or excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), elevates metabolism following intense exercise
- Increasing daily physical activity (walking, household chores) can significantly contribute to overall TEE
TEE Applications in Nutrition Interventions
Personalized Nutrition Planning
- Accurate estimation of TEE is crucial for determining an individual's energy requirements
- Tailored nutrition plans can be created for weight management, sports performance, or disease management
- Consider the individual's TEE along with their specific goals (weight loss, weight gain, or maintenance of body composition)
- Monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed based on changes in body composition, physical activity, or other relevant factors
Weight Management Strategies
- Weight loss
- Create a calorie deficit by prescribing a daily calorie intake below the individual's TEE
- Ensure adequate nutrient intake and minimize the loss of lean body mass
- Example: For a TEE of 2500 kcal, a 500 kcal deficit (2000 kcal intake) may result in a 1 lb weight loss per week
- Weight gain or muscle building
- Calorie surplus (consuming more calories than TEE) is necessary
- Appropriate macronutrient distribution and resistance training to promote muscle protein synthesis
- Example: For a TEE of 2500 kcal, a 500 kcal surplus (3000 kcal intake) may support muscle gain when combined with resistance training
Considerations for Athletes and Active Individuals
- TEE can be significantly higher in athletes or highly active individuals compared to sedentary populations
- Ensuring adequate energy intake to support training, recovery, and performance is essential
- Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) can occur when energy intake is insufficient to support the demands of training and normal physiological functions
- Health consequences of RED-S include impaired bone health, menstrual dysfunction, and compromised immune function
- Monitoring energy intake, body composition, and performance markers is crucial for preventing and managing RED-S