Workshop 6 Energy Balance & Nutritional Assessments

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the three types of energy status. What are the consequences of each?

2. Name the equipment used to determine the energy content of food. Explain how it works.

3. How much energy is required for males, and females? How much energy is required to
build up one kg of body weight?

4. Define the term “Satiety”. Out of three types of macronutrients, which food group makes
you feel fuller?

5. Your friend John tries to lose body weight. He plans to consume a bowl of vegetable
salads before the main meal in the next few months. Do you think that will help him to
achieve his goal? Explain.

6. Describe the four components of energy expenditure.

What is the estimated energy expenditure for each component out of the total energy
expenditure? Which one is the most variable component? Discuss the factors that affect
the basal metabolic rate.

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8. What are the difference in the fat distribution between males and females?

9. List five risks that are associated with excess body weight and excess body fat.

10. What is the central obesity and how is it measured? What is its relationship to disease?

Group discussion:

1. Energy balance is determined by food/energy intake and energy expenditure. This

activity will help you to understand the method of energy expenditure assessment.

Work in a group of 4-6 students to calculate amount of energy expenditure on physical

activities listed in Table 2 (divide between students so you can work efficiently).

Hint: You will need to work out your BMR first and then using the physical activity level
(PAL) in Table 1 to work out the energy expenditure on each activity.

1) BMR calculation:
• BMR for Male: = 1kcal x kg x hr
e.g. a 20-yr-old weighs 73 kg,
BMR = 1 x 73 x 24 = 1752 kcal/day
• BMR for Female: = 0.9 kcal x kg x hr

2) Example, if your BMR is 1500 kcal, the energy expenditure for 9 hours sleeping
would be:

BMR x PAL (based on information in Table 1) x total hr for the specific activity/24
Thus,
1500 x 1.2 x 9/24 = 1500 x 1.2 x 0.375 = 675 kcal

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Table 1. Energy Spent on Various Activities, Expressed as Multiples of BMR

Physical activity level

(PAL)

Activity Level x BMR (range)

BMR 1
Resting, sitting or lying 1.2 (1.1-1.3)
Very light 1.5 (1.3-2.0)
Sitting handwork, playing cards, writing, driving,
standing with some moving around.
Light (no obvious effect on comfort or breathing) 2.5 (2-3)
Strolling around, standing at bench work, cooking,
weaving, light cleaning or gardening
Moderate (stimulation of deeper breathing) 3.5 (3-4)
Light industrial or farm work, laying bricks,
carpentry, dancing, tennis, walking with a 10kg load,
digging garden.
Heavy (sweating if warm, breathing heavy, activity usually not 5 (4-6)
continuous, intermittent rest)
Digging, chopping wood, industrial work, shovelling,
loading, pushing wheelbarrow, jogging steadily,
football, netball (average over game).
Very heavy (breathing laboured, sweating freely, unable to 6-12
continue for more than a few minutes unless
physically very fit)
Running, active football, swimming fast (Elite
endurance athletes can manage 12 x BMR for more
than an hour)

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Table 2 Activity Record
Day: Example day

Activity Duration Energy Cost (kcal)

Sleeping 9 hrs
Shower 15 min
Breakfast 15 min
Driving 30 min
Lecture 2 hrs
Tutorial 1 hr
Lunch/talking 1 hr
Prac class 2 hr
Driving 30 min
Work, sales assistant 3 hrs
Talking 15 min
Driving 15 min
Eating dinner 30 min
Watch T.V. 1 hr 15 min

Total 24 hrs

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2. Case study:

Your friend, Mary Smith is 170cm tall and weighs 80kg. Her food diary shows that
her total energy intake is 3000 kcal energy per day and 1200 kcal are from fat. You
are asked to assess her nutritional status.

(a) Describe the four possible approaches you might use for the nutritional assessment.

(b) Calculate Mary’s BMI and comment on this based on the three categories defined
by the BMI scale.

(c) What is the relationship between BMI and mortality?

(d) Discuss the potential health problems if she continues her dietary regime for a
longer period. What suggestion would you give to Mary?