Correlation between Measured Resting Energy Expenditure and Predicted Basal Energy Expenditure in Female College Students

The aim of this study was to confirm the validity of predictive equations for the calculation of basal energy expenditure (BEE). One hundred twenty female college students were participated in this study. The resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured by indirect calorimetry for 30 minutes following an 12 hour overnight fasting. Among the available equations for predict BEE, Harris-Benedict, WHO/FAO/UNU and Cunningham methods were selected. Body composition was estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for the equation of predicted BEE. The mean of measured REE was 1257.2± 147.9 kcal/day, while the predicted value by Harris-Benedict, WHO/FAO/UNU and Cunningham were 1373.3 ± 45.4 kcal/day, 1290.0 ± 61.7 kcal/day and 1187.6 ±49.2 kcal/day, respectively. The Cunningham equation was more closed to measured values than Harris-Benedict and WHO/FAO/UNU equation by the correlation coefficient. Comparing Pearson's correlation coefficients, fat-free mass (FFM), body surface area (BSA) and body weight were higher than others such as height, body mass index (BMI), fat and fat%. The FFM's correlation coefficient was the highest as 0.74. Thus, the conclusion of this study suggested that the main determinant of BEE was FFM, and we derived a prediction equation as follows: BEE=-569.86+48.27 (FFM).