Abstract
Adequate energy intake is essential for the healthy development of children, and the estimated energy requirement of children is determined by total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and energy deposition for growth. A previous study in Japanese tweens indicated that TDEE could be estimated by fat-free mass (FFM) and step count. The aims of this study were to measure TDEE in Japanese preschool children and to confirm whether TDEE can be estimated by FFM and step count in preschool children. Twenty-one children aged 4–6 years old (11 girls and 10 boys; age, 5.1 (0.9) years; height, 107.2 (6.6) cm; weight, 17.5 (1.7) kg; BMI, 15.3 (1.3); mean (SD)) participated in this study. FFM and 7-day TDEE were obtained by doubly labeled water (DLW). Participants wore accelerometers during the DLW measurement period. No significant differences were observed in age-adjusted height, weight, BMI, FFM (13.0 (1.5) kg), or TDEE (1300 (174) kcal/day) between girls and boys. Girls had significantly higher percent fat and a lower daily step count than boys. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that FFM and step count were significant predictors of TDEE; TDEE (kcal/day) = 85.0 × FFM (kg) + 0.0135 × step count (steps/day). This accounted for 74% of TDEE variance. The current study confirmed that FFM and step count are major determinants of TDEE in Japanese preschool children as well as adolescents, although further research is needed to obtain precise equations.
Highlights
Nutrition-related factors contribute to approximately 45% of deaths in children aged under5 years as well as malnutrition in all its forms, such as wasting, stunting, and overweight or obesity, interrupting the healthy growth and development of children worldwide [1,2]
Simple and partial correlation indicated that fat-free mass (FFM) and daily step counts were significantly correlated with today daily energy expenditure (TDEE), and the correlation was independent of their age, sex, and height
We found that the FFM and step counts correlated with TDEE, and the relationship was independent of age, sex, height, or %fat
Summary
5 years (mainly due to undernutrition) as well as malnutrition in all its forms, such as wasting, stunting, and overweight or obesity, interrupting the healthy growth and development of children worldwide [1,2]. The double burden of malnutrition is considered to be one of the greatest global health issues. Stunting and wasting are the result of poor nutrient intake and/or disease; globally, approximately 149 million children and over 49 million children under 5 years old suffer from stunting and wasting, respectively. Energy deficiency induces stunting and/or wasting during childhood growth, under the conditions of physically active lifestyle and a heavy burden of infectious disease [5]. The assessment of today daily energy expenditure (TDEE) is an essential component of clinical nutrition in children. The DLW method is limited for research purposes because it is very expensive and involves time-consuming analysis
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