Considerable debate has developed regarding the relative value of caloric intake and needs. Calorie, refers to the approximate amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius at one atmosphere of pressure. In the context of food energy we typically speak in terms of kilocalorie which is often shortened to calorie.
Practically, an individual's caloric need can be calculated by determining their basal metabolic rate (BMR) and multiplying by an activity factor to account for energy used by intensity and frequency of exercise.
Weight and fat loss or weight and fat gain is related to energy balance. In nursing, this is referred to as Imbalanced Nutrition: More (Less) Than Body Requirements. In other words, if a patient is in a negative energy balance and consuming less than is used, he or she will lose weight and fat. That suggests that the first law of thermodynamics is being followed. However, Feinman and Fine argued that Calorie counting perhaps violates the second law of thermodynamics.1 This argument, as well as relative nutrient density of foods has guided some nutrition and integrative medicine practitioners to divest proposed diets from caloric needs and values. In many instances, this serves a purpose. Calorie counting often requires weighing or estimating weights of foods and following complex indices and trackers online or via a journal. Despite this revival of intuitive eating versus calculating Calories, there are times when determining an individual's caloric needs are useful.
What conditions are right for using caloric intake calculations?
It is imperative to understand caloric intake needs when a person is consuming nutritional products as sole nutrition rather than food ab libitum. Examples of this include the exclusive use of meal replacements or elemental diets.
Meal replacements, using intact protein sources, are often used to support body composition whereas elemental diets are used under medical supervision for a spectrum of health concerns. In the case of elemental diets, practitioners must take care for patients to not lose weight too quickly. This may be a sign that food, calories, and nutrients must be increased. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the suggested parameters for evaluating significance of unplanned and undesired weight loss are well defined. Significant loss is 5% of total body weight over one month and greater than 5% is severe loss.
Caloric needs are equal to the basal metabolic rate (BMR) multiplied by an activity factor. If you do not know body fat/lean mass, the best way to estimate caloric needs is the Harris-Benedict equation. This equation will be very accurate in all but the very muscular (will under-estimate calorie needs) and the very overweight (will over-estimate calorie needs) because it does not take into consideration lean body mass as a variable. In addition, different equations are used for men and women.
Women
To convert weight in pounds to weight in kilograms, multiply weight in pounds by 0.4536. For example, 164 pound person weighs 74.4 kg (164 x 0.4536 = 74.4).
To convert height in inches to height in centimeters, multiply height in inches by 2.54. For example, a five-foot, nine-inch (5'9” or 69 inch) person is 175.3 cm (69 x 2.54 = 175.3).
For example, a 37 year old, sedentary, 5 foot, 9 inch (175.3 cm), woman weighing 164 pounds (74.4 kg) would have a calculated BMR of 1493.6
Here is the calculation [(10 x 74.4) + (6.25 x 175.3) – (5 x 37) – 161] = [744 + 1095.6 – 185 -161]
Because she is sedentary, her Harris-Benedict equation suggests an activity factor of 1.2 making her caloric needs 1792.32 per day or roughly 1800 calories.
The activity factors based on activity level are as follows:
An online calculator can also help to determine BMR and a very simple calculation using the activity factor will provide her caloric needs.
Men
BMR = (10 x weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) + 5
Using the same age, activity, height, and weight variables, a man's caloric needs are 1992 per day or roughly 2000 calories.
The Harris-Benedict equation was originally proposed by James Harris and Francis Benedict in 1918.2. It was revised in 1984 by Roza and Shizgal3 and again in 1990 by Mifflin, St Jeor, and Hill.4
Individuals who are younger, more active, taller, and heavier have greater caloric needs. If you do have body fat/lean mass then you can use the Katch-Mcardle formula.
The Katch-Mcardle formula requires determination of lean body mass which is Weight in kg x (100-(Body Fat)) / 100
Then, BMR is calculated as (21.6 x Lean Body Mass in kg) + 370.
BMR is multiplied by the activity factor to determine one's daily caloric needs.
Calculating Calories for a sole-source nutrition program, especially under medical supervision cannot be overestimated or forgotten.
REFERENCES
1. FeinmanRD et al. Nutr J. 2004 Jul 28;3:9.
2. Harris JA et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1918. 4 (12): 370–3.
3. Roza AM et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984 Jul;40(1):168-82.
4. Mifflin MD et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990 Feb;51(2):241-7.
