Avaliação de equações de determinação do gasto energético para o planejamento dietético de praticantes de exercício físico

Abstract

Accurate determinatin of total energy expenditure (TEE) is essential for dietary planning for exercise practitioners. Discrepancies in estimation equations affect the accuracy of calculations, impacting nutritional treatment and the prescription of diets appropriate to the individual's level of physical activity. This study aims to compare the energy expenditure prediction equations commonly used when applied to exercise practitioners. This is a quantitative and retrospective study. It was carried out based on analysis of medical records of 28 patients treated by an extension project between January and October 2023 at the UFJF-GV Nutrition School Clinic. Based on medical records, pre-consultation forms, anamnesis, and anthropometric assessment data, history of diseases, weight chage, use of dietary supplements, use of alcoholic beveages, food consumption, and routine of daily activities. The equations for estimating basal or resting energy expenditure (REE) used in this research were Harris and Benedict (1919 and 1984), Mifflin-St and Jeor (1990), Cunningham (1980 and 1991), Schofield (1985), De Lorenzo (1999), Owen (1986), Tinsley (2019), FAO/WHO (1989) and DRIs equations (2023 and 2005) used to calculate the estimated energy requirement (EER). From the data analysis, it was verified that the daily activity routine or activity factor (AF), without considering the physical exercise o the participants, was classified as sedentary/inactive. Weight training was the most practiced exercise modality (82,14%). In the analysis of energy expenditure, the EER values stood out in relation to the equations that calculate BEE or REE, and therefore were not statistically compared due to the methodological differences between them. Among the equations that calculate BEE and REE, the highest values of the general means were Tinsley (Weight) and De Lorenzo. All equations showed a strong and significant correlation with weight and fat-free mass (FFM), and both DRIs, Owen and the three equations that use FFM showed a signigicant inverse correlation with the measures of body fat (%). Among the results fo the equations for predicting TEE, the highest values in the general mean were obtained with the equations of De Lorenzo, DRI 2005 and Tinsley (Weight), and the lowest values with the equations of Owen, Cunningham 1991 and Mifflin-St Jeor. This study showed that the equations for predicting energy expenditure vary significanty in the results. Among the equations, there was no equation that was more suitable for the general public who practice physical exercise, but some were more correlated with body composition and therefore relevant for this pubic. Therefore, it is essential that nutrition professionals consider the individual characteristics available, such as body composition, sex, level of physical activity and population in which the intended equation was validated, to choose the most appropriate one for each case.