Pediatric Nutrition in Practice

1 Specific Aspects of Childhood Nutrition

Key Words

Energy needs, requirements · Basal metabolic rate ·

Physical activity level · Energy cost of growth

Key Messages

• Energy requirements of infants, children and ado-
  lescents are defined as the amount of energy need-
  ed to balance total energy expenditure at a desir-
  able level of physical activity, and to support opti-
  mal growth and development consistent with
  long-term health


• Recommendations for energy intake are based on
  the average requirement of the population to avoid
  energy intakes that exceed the requirements


• Recommendations for energy intake to support a
  moderately active lifestyle are encouraged to main-
  tain fitness and health and to reduce the risk of
  overnutrition © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel

Introduction

Energy requirements of infants, children and ado-
lescents are defined as the amount of energy need-
ed to balance total energy expenditure (TEE) at a

desirable level of physical activity, and to support

optimal growth and development consistent with

long-term health [1]. Unlike recommendations for

other nutrients, which meet or exceed the require-

ments of practically all individuals in the popula-

tion, recommendations for energy intake are based

on the average requirement of the population to

avoid energy intakes that exceed requirements.

Recommendations for energy intake and physical

activity are intended to support and maintain the

growth and development of well-nourished and

healthy infants, children and adolescents. The

2004 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/

WHO/United Nations University (UNU) recom-

mendations for energy intake are based upon esti-

mates of TEE and an allowance for growth [1]. For

infants, TEE is predicted from measurements of

TEE by the stable isotope method of doubly labeled

water (DLW). For children and adolescents, heart

rate monitoring and the DLW method were used

to predict TEE. The energy cost of growth was de-

rived from average growth velocities and the com-

position of weight gain.

Energy requirements during growth and

development can be partitioned into compo-

Koletzko B, et al. (eds): Pediatric Nutrition in Practice. World Rev Nutr Diet. Basel, Karger, 2015, vol 113, pp 34–40
DOI: 10.1159/000360315

1.3 Nutritional Needs

1.3.2 Energy Requirements of Infants, Children and

Adolescents

Nancy F. Butte