Dietary requirements - Daily Dietary requirements for Child and Adults

Energy

Food is necessary to provide the body with energy. The SI unit of energy is the joule (J), and 1 kJ = 0.239 kcal. The conversion factor of 4.2 kJ, equivalent to 1 kcal, is used in clinical nutrition.

Energy balance

Energy balance is the difference between energy intake and energy expenditure. Weight gain or loss is a simple, but accurate, way of indicating differences in energy balance.

Energy requirements

There are two approaches to assessing energy requirements for subjects who are weight stable and close to energy balance:

• assessment of energy intake
• assessment of total energy expenditure.

Energy intake

This can be estimated from dietary surveys and in the past has been used to decide daily energy requirements. However, measurement of energy expenditure gives a more accurate assessment of requirements.

Energy Expenditure

Basal Metabolic Rate

Recommended healthy diet

Energy Stores - Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat

Dietary requirements