• Assessment
    In non-obese individuals, what is the prediction accuracy and maximum overestimation and underestimation errors compared to measured resting metabolic rate when using the Harris-Benedict formula?
    • Conclusion

      In a high research design quality study of non-obese individuals, the Harris-Benedict equation predicted RMR within 10% of measured RMR in 69% of individuals. Among the remaining individuals (31%), 27% were overestimations and 4% were underestimations. In two high quality studies by the same primary researcher, the Harris-Benedict equation predicted RMR within 10% of measured RMR in 59% of individuals; the remaining 41% included 36% overestimations and 5% underestimations. In a study of negative quality, the Harris-Benedict equation predicted RMR within 10% of measured RMR in 80% of normal weight males and 81% of females. The remaining errors (20% and 19% in males and females, respectively) were overestimations. Individual error ranges (using all three studies) was an overestimate by 42% to an underestimate of 23%, indicating a large variation.

    • Grade: I
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    In non-obese individuals, what is the prediction accuracy and maximum overestimation and understimation errors compared to measured resting metabolic rate when using the Mifflin-St.Jeor formula?
    • Conclusion

      One study of high research quality design reported that the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation accurately predicted RMR within +/- 10% of measured RMR in 82% of non-obese adults. Of the remaining 18% errors, 10% were overestimations and 8% were underestimations. The individual error range was a maximum overestimate by 15% and underestimate by 18%, indicating a more even distribution and narrower variation (i.e., five and eight percent outside of the defined +/- 10% measure). 

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    In non-obese individuals, what is the prediction accuracy and maximum overestimation and understimation errors compared to measured resting metabolic rate when using the Owen et al formula?
    • Conclusion

      The Owen, et al. equation predicted RMR within 10% of measured RMR in 73% of non-obese adults in a high quality research methods design; the remaining 27% included 6% overestimation and 21% underestimation errors. The individual error range was an overestimate by 28% to an underestimate of 24%, indicating a large variation.

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    In non-obese individuals, what is the prediction accuracy and maximum overestimation and understimation errors compared to measured resting metabolic rate when using the WHO/FAO/UNU formula?
    • Conclusion

      Individual prediction accuracy within +/- 10% is not reported for non-obese U.S.-residing adults using the World Health Organization/ Food & Agricultural Organization/United Nations University (WHO/FAO/UNU) equation.

    • Grade: V
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    In studies of non-obese or non-obese and obese adults, what are the group mean errors in estimating resting metabolic rate (RMR) compared to measured RMR when using the Harris-Benedict formula?
    • Conclusion

      A high quality study of U.S. residing, non-obese and obese males (ages 19-<50 years) report Harris-Benedict overestimates group mean RMR by 9%. Two neutral quality research design study also report, Harris-Benedict overestimated group mean RMR by 9% in younger age, non-obese, U.S.-residing, males (ages 18-33) and by 10-11% in males, (~21-51 y) representing all weight categories. In the latter study, Harris-Benedict overestimated group mean RMR in non-obese females by 11-14%. The group RMR mean overestimation error ranges from 54-148 kcals/day U.S.-residing individuals, 18-76 years, representing all weight classifications.

    • Grade: I
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    In studies of non-obese or non-obese and obese adults, what are the group mean errors in estimating resting metabolic rate (RMR) compared to measured RMR when using the Owen et al formula?
    • Conclusion

      The Owen, et al. validation studies reported a group mean prediction error of zero for men and women (representing all weight classifications) with a standard deviation of +/- 215 kcals/day and +/-152 kcals/day, respectively. In both studies, there were wide 95% confidence intervals representing large variations. Another U.S. study reported a group mean underestimation error rate in males and females (of all weights) by <1% and approximately 4%, respectively. A large variation was found in studies in women residing in other countries such as young adult women residing in Italy (i.e., 95% confidence interval of 87-120% using mean measured to predicted ratio %).  

    • Grade: I
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    In studies of non-obese or non-obese and obese adults, what are the group mean errors in estimating resting metabolic rate when using the Mifflin-St. Jeor formula?
    • Conclusion

      A study of neutral quality research design reported group RMR mean overestimation errors in primarily obese, U.S. residing females (mean BMI 38.5±11.4 but including 23 non-obese individuals with a BMI of 24-28 kg/m2), the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation underestimated group mean by 23 kcals/day. Two high quality research design study in non-obese Italian women (~18-30 y) reported a group mean overestimation error of ~65-90 kcals/day. A high quality research design study of Italian non-obese men and women (age range of 18-59 years) found a group RMR mean underestimation error of 86-96 kcals/day. In this same study, with all weights represented, the group mean underestimation error difference was ~100 kcals/day.

    • Grade: I
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.