Predicting resting energy expenditure among athletes: a systematic review

Abstract

Resting energy expenditure (REE) is often estimated in athletes using equations developed from the general population however, the application in athletic-specific populations is questionable. The aim of this systematic review was to compare measured REE and estimations of REE obtained from non-sport participants and athletes. Inclusion criteria met PICO criteria: population – participantsinvolved in organized sport; intervention – resting energy expenditure was obtained by calorimetry; comparator – equations to estimate REE; outcomes – comparisons between measured REE and predicted REE. The search was conducted in Web of Science all databases, PubMed and Scopus. Comparisons between measured REE and predicted REE as well the potential models to estimate REE developed among athletes were summarized. Allowing for variation among studies, equations developed within general populations were not comparable to REE measured by calorimetry in athletes. Equations across athleticsamples were obtained but, few studiestested their validity acrossindependent samples of sport participants. Nevertheless, equations developed within athlete populations seem to be widely unused in sports nutrition literature and practice. De Lorenzo and ten Haaf equations appear to present an acceptable agreement with measured REE. Finally, equations used among adults should not be generalised for youth sport participants.

Keywords

• calorimetry
• energy needs
• sports nutrition
• predictive equation
• basal rate