|  | Diet Nutrition | Weight Control

Exceptions to EER Calculations

A person's gender, age, weight, height and activity level determine her estimated energy requirement, or EER. Healthy individuals are the basis for EER calculations, but those who have certain injuries, burns or other trauma can use altered calculations. Some cases, however, do not lend themselves to the use of EER calculations.

  1. Obesity

    • Obese adults can use the EER calculation, but only with alterations. The EER calculation for obese adults uses adjusted body weight, or ABW, instead of actual weight. The formula for calculating ABW is as follows: [(current body weight kg -- ideal body weight kg) x 0.25] + ideal body weight kg. Health professionals can use the EER calculation for obese children; using the lowest exercise level delivers the most accurate result.

    Cystic Fibrosis

    • Those who have cystic fibrosis have higher energy expenditure than healthy individuals. Individual energy needs for those with cystic fibrosis are between 120 percent and 200 percent of those of a healthy individual of similar age, gender, height, weight and physical activity level. Weight and growth status of individuals with cystic fibrosis require monitoring to ensure adequate calorie intake.

    Developmental Disabilities

    • EER calculations do not apply to individuals with developmental delays. Growth and weight changes, or lack thereof, of these individuals require monitoring. Persons with cerebral palsy, for example, may not gain weight due to possessing less fat mass and subsequent higher energy expenditure while individuals with myelodysplasia have lower energy expenditure and may become obese.

    Spina Bifida

    • EER calculations also do not apply to persons with spina bifida. Older children, adolescents and adults with spina bifida are at risk for obesity. Individuals with spina bifida may have lower energy expenditure because of their shorter stature, reduced fat mass and low activity levels associated with mobility problems. Monitoring weight and growth will determine if energy requirements are met.

    Premature Infants

    • Medical professionals use equations to determine how much formula a premature, or very low birth weight, infant, needs. However, no calculation is available to determine EERs for these babies. Very low birth weight babies may require between 120 and 150 calories for each kilogram of body weight each day for sufficient growth, depending on their specific needs. Monitoring weight and growth will determine if a very low birth weight infant is getting enough calories.

    Smoking

    • EER calculations do not include smoking as a variable. Because the nicotine in cigarettes can raise a smoker's energy needs by up to 10 percent, smokers may need to consume more calories than nonsmokers of the same age, weight, height, build and gender in order to maintain their weight.

Weight Control - Related Articles