How to Calculate Basal Energy Needs

Basal energy is the absolute minimum energy required to maintain a person's metabolism while he is at rest. It is the energy the body requires per day to maintain the function of the vital organs such as the heart and lungs. This energy can be readily calculated using the Harris-Benedict equation. An additional factor may be used to compensate for caloric requirements of specific medical conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

Show More

Instructions

Calculating Basal Metabolic Energy Requirements

• 1

  Determine the gender, age (a) in years, height (h) in centimeters and weight (m) in kilograms of the person whose basal energy requirements are being calculated.

• 2

  Determine both the "activity" and "stress" status and factor for the person. The various types of activity and the corresponding factors are: bed rest (1.2), ambulatory (1.3) and fever (1.13 per degree Celsius). The types of stress factor are starvation (0.7), surgery (1.2), severe trauma (1.35), head injury (1.6), sepsis (1.6), burn < 40 percent body surface (1.5), and burn > 40 percent body surface (2.1).

• 3

  For a male, calculate the basic basal energy requirements using the equation; Energy = 66.5 + (13.75 x m) + (5.003 x h) - (6.775 x a). For a female, use the equation; Energy = 655.1 + (9.563 x m) + (1.850 x h) - (4.676 x a). Both equations give a result in kilo-calories per day.

• 4

  Multiply the basic basal energy requirements by the activity factor and also by (if applicable) the stress factor to derive the actual daily basal caloric requirements in kilo-calories per day.