Daily Energy Need Research Articles

Design and Simulation of a Solar Powered House in Muğla: Roof Decorated with Half Cut Cells

In this article, the performance, design and efficiency calculation of photovoltaic systems were made using PvSol program. For roof type panel design close to standard installations, panel position and panel type were designed based on Muğla province sun hour data and roof shading factor. In this study, the data obtained for the roof type installation designed in Muğla city using monocrystalline, polycrystalline and half-cut monocrystalline cells were compared. When yield, area and price parameters were compared, it was found that the best cell type was half-section monocrystalline. As a result of the simulations, it was found that the average daily energy need of the house is 6.4kWh, fed by 14 half-section monocrystalline panels. The results obtained are consistent with the data in the literature.

Feasibility Study and Techno-Economic Analysis of Solar PV-Biomass Hybrid Power System: A Case Study of Kajola Village, Nigeria

Efficient and sustainable electric power supply is needed for effective healthcare delivery, provision of quality education system, and building of impactful social/human infrastructures. Unrestricted access to reliable and affordable electricity will improve people's welfare and enhance quality healthcare delivery globally. The need to reduce the harmful impact of Greenhouse gas emissions along with its fossil fuel emissions have necessitated the need for the numerous research interests in low-carbon power generation systems. The feasibility and techno-economic analysis of an off-grid Solar Photovoltaic (PV)/Biomass (BG)/Diesel (DG)/Battery (BB) hybrid system for a rural village-Kajola, Nigeria was conducted in this paper. Renewable energy sources (RES) parameters such as irradiation data, biomass resources, and DG parameters were collected from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’ database, Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture and manufacturers’ price lists respectively. The load demand assessment of the area was conducted and analyzed through the use of questionnaires. All the relevant data collected were used as input into the HOMER software. The optimal configuration is the PV-BG-BB combination. The Levelized Cost of Energy (COE) is $0.178/ kWh, with renewable energy fraction (RF) of 100%. This means that nearly all of the energy used by the hybrid system to meet the load is generated from renewable sources. The proposed solar PV/Biomass generator/Battery bank hybrid energy system can supply electricity to the village under consideration at an hourly average of approximately 52.7 kW and with an average daily energy need of 483.71 kWh. The study will serve as a template for all electric power system stakeholders and potential investors on the feasibility and optimal design of hybrid renewable energy system for rural electrification.

Wavelet and Statistical Analysis of Milk Products, Fruits and Vegetables Intake in India

Milk products, fruits and vegetables intake are the main components of a healthy diet and have vitamins, proteins, minerals, fats and many more which help in fulfillment of daily energy need and protection from many diseases and disorders. Milk products, fruits and vegetables intake index decide the true development of any country, because healthy people can live happy and longer life and can play inportant role in the development of society and country. Wavelet transforms is a powerful and efficient tool which captures the localized time frequency information of the signal and suitable for analysing non-stationary and transient signals. The approximation represents average behaviour or trend of the signal, while detail represents differential behaviour of the signal corresponding to each level of decomposition. Milk products, fruits and vegetables data of India from Jan. 2013 to Aug. 2021 are taken as raw data. Wavelet transforms of this data is performed by software dyadwaves using Haar wavelet, decomposition level-5. Approximation is the slowest part of data and corresponds to the maximum scale value describes the trend of the signal. The statistical analysis of given data is also performed through skewness, kurtosis, standard deviation and correlation coefficients. The wavelet analytical results are strongly consistent with statistical analytical results of the milk products, fruits and vegetables intake.

Minimizing the cost of energy consumption for public institutions in Nigeria

Energy and humanity are superimposed. Its importance to mankind and indispensable nature to the world cannot be overemphasized. Public institutions need energy to carry-out their daily activities. The increase in the demand for energy in public institutions can be traced to advancement in technology. Thus, resulted to a sharp increase in the energy consumption, thereby increasing the energy monthly utility bill astronomically. This has put pressure on public institutions in Nigeria, as most of them are heavily indebted to energy companies. Due to constant electric power failure in Nigeria, public institutions rely heavily on diesel generators to argument their daily energy need. Cost minimization and a sustainable clean energy has become a priority for the managers of our public institutions. This study was carried out to establish the exact amount of energy consumption at the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Nigeria, and fashion outways of reducing the cost burden for the institution. The study was achieved through the installation of “Efergy meter” to understudy the energy audit of the institution. Base on the result obtained, the exact amount of energy consumption were established. Solar photovoltaic (PV) system was considered clean and cost-effective options for our public institutions on the long term.

Analysis of Daily Energy Demand for Cooling in Buildings with Different Comfort Categories—Case Study

Climate change has a potential impact on the number of hot and torrid days in the summer period. Due to the occupants’ comfort needs, and because of the high heat loads during the summer period, in several European countries, the energy used for air conditioning in buildings increased. With multiple environmental monitoring systems (Testo Saveris) in two similar offices, having west and east orientation of glazing, 1920 data (internal air, mean radiant temperature) related to operative temperature were collected in order to show the differences between heat loads of rooms with similar geometry in the same building. Data were measured in a 15 min interval. The diffuse and direct solar radiation had been determined for the horizontal and vertical surfaces, using the measured hourly global radiation (Debrecen, Hungary) data for the analyzed days (summer, hot, and torrid days). The local climatic results were compared with other climatic days used in different national standards. The daily energy need for cooling for different building comfort categories was also determined in the case of the representative days. The maximum daily energy need for cooling can be even 2.3 times higher for east orientation in comparison to the west orientation of the facades.

The EnergyKids project: pilot study on the energy balance of primary school children during school days and summer camp days

AbstractSpecific nutritional requirements should be cover during childhood to ensure proper growth. The daily energy need is defined as the number of calories necessary to satisfy the total energy expenditure in a healthy and active organism. Since children are more inclined to be physically active during summer, their energy expenditure may vary during school days respect to summer days and a proper energy intake should be planned during both periods.The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the energy balance during school days and summer camp days in primary school children living in the city of Parma (Italy), attending the Giocampus programme.Participants were asked to complete a 3-day weighed food diary and to wear an activity tracker for the same 3 consecutive days twice: within a school week and a summer camp week. Height and body weight were measured at the beginning of each assessment week and BMI was calculated to define the weight status through the IOTF gender- and age-related cut-offs for children BMI. The mean energy balance was estimated as the difference between the mean total energy expenditure (calculated multiplying the daily physical activity level by the basal metabolic rate from the Schofield's predictive equation) and the mean daily energy intakes (obtained through the Italian food database of the European Institute of Oncology).Fifty-five children (49% F, 51% M, 8–10 y) correctly completed the study. In both periods, the mean BMI corresponded to normal weight status, without significant differences between genders. Energy intake did not change significantly between the assessment periods or between sexes. As expected, the minutes of inactivity decreased during the summer camp period. Moreover, males were more active than females, but the increase in the total energy expenditure from school to summer camp, related to the increased physical activity, was significant in both sexes. Energy balance was negative in both assessment periods and it changed significantly from school to summer camp days, decreasing in both sexes but being more negative for boys than for girls.Our results underline the importance of providing children with meals nutritionally adequate and suggest that the energy content of children's meals should be increased during particular conditions, like a summer camp, and continuously monitored to assure an adequate energy intake to cover the energy requirements during both school and summer camp days.

Uses of nopal biomass as a source of energy and biofertilizers

The nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica), cultivated by smallholder farmers, is traditionally used for production of fruits, industrial products, forage and “cochinilla”. Cladodes can also be used for a number of other purposes. We evaluated other uses of nopal cladodes. One of the uses is for biogas production from anaerobic bio-digestion. The daily energy need for a rural family of five people can be met from 3.61 m3 day(‑1) biogas. Considering that 10 t ha(‑1) year(‑1) dried cladodes are produced and that 3 kg dried cladodes produce 1 m3 biogas, it is possible to obtain the biogas needed annually by the family from a 0.4-ha cactus plantation. This amount of biogas has an economic value of US$1078, using the price of commercial gas as a reference. Solid materials and liquid biofertilizer that contain nutrients and material can be obtained in biogas systems. One tonne of solid biofertilizer is equivalent to 40 kg urea, 50 kg potassium nitrate and 94 kg triple superphosphate. Assuming an average price of US$0.32 kg(‑1) fertilizer, each tonne of biofertilizer would be worth US$58.80. Also, dried and crushed cladodes can be used for direct burning or in combination with coal. It is also possible to obtain ethanol from the cladodes, but the production technology is more complex. On a larger scale, 8.6 L ethanol could be produced from 100 kg dried cladodes and 24.7 L ethanol from 100 kg dried fruits, for concentrations of ethanol above 98%. Another bioenergy use is the extraction of fatty acids from fruit seed residues and their transformation into biodiesel. Each fruit has between 150 and 300 seeds, and the oil content ranges between 98 and 139 g kg‑1 seed.

Obesity and Obesity Related Diseases, Sugar Consumption and Bad Oral Health: A Fatal Epidemic Mixtures: The Pediatric and Odontologist Point of View.

Obesity and dental caries are increasingly widespread pathologies. The former is growing so rapidly that the WHO classified its trend as an "epidemic". Both are triggered by a number of well known common etiologic factors sharing also the high added sugar amount since childhood. Because of its fermentation and pH lowering, dietary sugar allows the cariogenic bacteria to damage the tooth enamel provoking the carious lesions. WHO guidelines recommend reducing sugar intake to 10% of the total daily energy need, and highlight that there is evidence which suggests cuttingthis value down to 5% at least. The American guidelines addressing paediatric age put the limit to 25gr a day with a total ban on sugar in those aged 2 or less.

Lack of negative autocorrelations of daily food intake on successive days challenges the concept of the regulation of body weight in humans

According to most theories, the amount of food consumed on one day should be negatively related to intake on subsequent days. Several studies have observed such a negative correlation between the amount consumed on one day and the amount consumed two to four days later. The present study attempted to replicate this observation by re-examining data from a previous study where all food ingested over a 30-day observation period was measured. Nine male and seven female participants received a vegan diet prepared, dispensed, and measured in a metabolic unit. Autocorrelations were performed on total food intake consume on one day and that consumed one to five days later. A significant positive correlation was detected between the weight of food eaten on one day and on the amount consumed on the following day (r = 0.29, 95% CI [0.37, 0.20]). No correlation was found between weights of food consumed on one day and up to twelve days later (r = 0.09, 95% CI [0.24, −0.06]), (r = 0.11, 95% CI [0.26, −0.0.26]) (r = 0.02, 95% CI [0.15, −0.7]) (r = −0.08, 95% CI [0.11, −0.09]). The same positive correlation with the previous day's intake was observed at the succeeding breakfast but not at either lunch or dinner. However, the participants underestimated their daily energy need resulting in a small, but statistically significant weight loss. Daily food intake increased slightly (13 g/day), but significantly, across the 30-day period. An analysis of the previous studies revealed that the negative correlations observed by others was caused by a statistical artifact resulting from normalizing data before testing for the correlations. These results, when combined with the published literature, indicate that there is little evidence that humans precisely compensate for the previous day's intake by altering the amount consumed on subsequent days. Moreover, the small but persistent increase in food intake suggests that physiological mechanisms that affect food intake operate more subtly and over much longer periods of time than the meal or even total daily intake.

PV/batteries sizing and energy dispatching using Continuous Petri Net

Electrification of isolated area is commonly ensured by autonomous power installation including renewable energy sources. Many software tools are available to size such installations. These tools refer to the daily energy need and the site global renewable potential which leads to inaccurate and wasteful sizing. This paper presents an alternative tool based on the energy consumption and the daily loads profile to compute the size of a standalone PV/batteries system installed in an isolated chalet in Sfax, Tunisia. Obtained results are compared to those provided by PVsyst sizing tool to confirm the proposed algorithm effectiveness. Referring to obtained results, an assessment is proposed to dispatch energy between connected autonomous installations to cover the need of some houses by energy surplus offered by neighbors. A Continuous Petri Net (CPN) is used to model the energy flow between houses.

Thermogenic effect and substrate oxidation of protein from animal and plant sources in adults

Background: Changing nutrient source is one of the efforts to increase thermogenic effect (TEF) which may be significant for body weight reduction.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high protein diets using animal (chicken) and plant (tofu) sources on the thermogenic effect (TEF) and substrate oxidation.Method: Ten female adults (mean age 20.8+1.2 y) participated in two isocaloric diet ingestions. Each meal provided 30% of the daily basal energy need (32/26/42% as protein/fat/carbohydrates, respectively). Postprandial energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry.Results: There were no significant differences in TEF and substrate oxidation. The postprandial fat oxidation rate was higher than that at the preprandial state, while carbohydrate and protein oxidation rates were lower.Conclusion: No differences were observed in TEF and substrate oxidation in animal- and plant-based diets. A high protein diet could be beneficial for weight loss, but animal protein does not appear to offer superior benefits compared to plant protein.

Vnímanie kvality chleba spotrebiteľom

The aim of this paper is to evaluate consumers’ perception of bread quality in Slovakia. Bread belongs to essential foodstuffs and we all have it served on our table every day.Cereal products keep their importance in people’s nutrition mainly because of their preventive effects on health. They saturate about 40 % of the daily energy need of an average European, who in ave­ra­ge acquires from cereals about 30 % of proteins, vitamin B1, niatin and phosphorus, around 1/6 of fats (out of it 19 % of linol acid), almost 60 % of saccharides, Ľ iron and about 13 % of vitamin B2 and calcium. If we add some cereal fiber which is an effective prevention factor of cardiovascular di­sea­ses, metabolic and oncological diseases of colon and anus, we will get a complex picture about positive effects of cereals in our nutrition. If we were to mark any foodstuff which has been accompanying the mankind in the course of history, it could be bread. Its consummation is spread in the whole world. Only the ones who once suffered from its lack have recognized its value.It results from our research that consumers in Slovakia prefer consuming the wheat-ray bread (38.5 %). The respondents – consumers prefer at choosing buying bread in terms of the external, subjective factors, the overall shape when choosing bread (45 %) and dark color of crust (25 %). They showed minimum interest in white color crust and packaging size. In terms of the internal, objective factors, the most important factor for respondents, for women as well as for men was freshness of foodstuffs followed by fiber (with a big difference) (12.82 %).Almost 60 % of bread consumers claimed that they did not have any possibility to obtain the required information regarding bread in supermarkets and hypermarkets because it is not possible to find professional staff providing them with the required information. A different situation is in the classical, small, self-service, and specialized stores, where personal contact of a shop-assistant and a cus­to­mer is more often. Results of the performed marketing research of consumer behavior in the market with bakery products will become a sort of the initial basis for departments involved in the research. The team of co-authors have the task to define bread quality on the basis of chemical analyses in accordance with consumers needs.

Effects of Cactus Fiber on the Excretion of Dietary Fat in Healthy Subjects: A Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Clinical Investigation

BackgroundCactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) fiber was shown to promote weight loss in a 3-month clinical investigation. As demonstrated by in vitro studies, cactus fiber binds to dietary fat and its use results in reduced absorption, which in turn leads to reduced energy absorption and ultimately the reduction of body weight. ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to elucidate the dietary fat binding capacity of cactus fiber through determination of fecal fat excretion in healthy volunteers. Subjects and MethodsThis clinical investigation was performed as a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study in healthy subjects for a period of approximately 45 days. Twenty healthy volunteer subjects were randomized to receive cactus fiber or placebo, 2 tablets thrice daily with main meals. All subjects were provided with meals during the study period (except washout) according to a standardized meal plan, with 35% of daily energy need coming from fat. Two 24-hour feces samples were collected during both the baseline and treatment periods for analysis of the fat content. ResultsCactus fiber showed an increased fecal fat excretion compared with placebo (mean [SD] = 15.79% [5.79%] vs 4.56% [3.09%]; P < 0.001). No adverse events were reported throughout the study period. ConclusionsCactus fiber has been shown to significantly promote fecal fat excretion in healthy adults. The results of our study support the hypothesis that cactus fiber helps in reducing body weight by binding to dietary fat and increasing its excretion, thus reducing dietary fat available for absorption. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01590667.

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Introduction: Critically ill children and especially infants in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are at high risk of underfeeding. Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients admitted to PICU for at least >48 h between (10/12-12/12). All intravenous fluids, parenteral and enteral nutrition for the first 8D were analyzed. Resting energy expenditure (REE) and protein needs were estimated by the Schoefield equation (Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 39, 1985) and ASPEN Clinical Guidelines (JPEN 33, 2009), respectively. Results are mean ± SD. Results: There were 156 (sex M/F 79/77) patients identified, with a total length of hospital stay of 12 (8.5-19)(median (interquartile range)) days, with age 1.3 (0.3-4.6) yr; PRISM score 5 (2.5-8.0); and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) 11 (2-11). Estimated REE by Schoefield for <2 y, n=93; 2-5 y, n=30; >6 y, n=33; was 52.8 ± 9.1, 54.7 ± 7.7, 36 and 33.5 ± 7.4 kcal/kg/d, respectively. Average 8D energy intake was 46.6 ± 22.5, 33.4 ± 13.3, and 18.0 ± 12.3 kcal/kg/d, respectively (paired t-test all p <0.01). Thus only 93, 62 and 53 %, respectively of 8D energy needs were met. Patients met <90% of estimated REE: <2 y: 51%; 2-6 y: 87% and >6y: 91% (Chi2 p <0.001). Average energy deficit was 0.2, 2.3 and 2.0 times the daily energy needs in <2, 2-5 and >6y old children. Estimated protein needs by ASPEN guidelines for <2 y, 2-5 y and >6 y was 2.5 ± 0.1, 1.8 ± 0.1 and 1.6 ± 0.1 g/kg/d; average 8D protein intake was 1.0 ± 0.7, 0.9 ± 0.6 and 0.5 ± 0.5 g/kg/d, respectively (all p <0.001). Thus only 41, 51 and 33 %, respectively of protein needs were met. Patients met <90% of estimated protein needs: <2 y: 94%; 2-6 y: 87% and >6y: 94% (Chi2 p <0.43). Average protein deficit was 3.2, 2.8 and 3.1 times the daily energy need in <2, 2-5 and >6y old children. Conclusions: Only 53 to 93% of energy and 33 to 51 % of protein needs were met during the first 8 days of PICU stay. Critically ill children are at significant risk for underfeeding, especially protein underfeeding. Further efforts should be made to meet energy and protein needs of PICU patients.

Science for Everyone; Fructose and Human Metabolism

Today, metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and obesity have been widely affecting the communities. Impressive changes in daily life-style and nutritional habits are well known factors in the etiopathogenesis of those diseases. Fructose (fruit sugar) that we were only able to consume via some natural products such as fruits and honey one century ago, today it has become nearly the main carbohydrate source of human daily energy need. However, it is hard to say that fructose is well known by human metabolism. Therefore, it is thought that elevated consumption ratio of fructose may have impact on the incidence of above-mentioned diseases.

Effect of food form on postprandial plasma amino acid concentrations in older adults

To assess the effect of food form (FF) on postprandial (PP) plasma amino acid (AA) concentrations, ten older adults (five men and five women, age 72 (sem 2) years, BMI 26.0 (sem 0.9) kg/m2) consumed, on separate days, energy and macronutrient-matched test meal replacement products (MRP) (approximately 25 % of the subject's daily energy need; approximately 54 % carbohydrate, 21 % protein, 25 % fat) in beverage and solid form. Blood samples were taken during fasting and throughout the 4 h PP period; plasma AA concentrations were assessed using HPLC. Consumption of each MRP led to an increase in total AA, branched-chain AA (BCAA), essential AA (EAA), non-essential AA (NEAA) and leucine concentrations (4 h area under the curve, AUC) (time effect; P < 0.05). The beverage MRP resulted in a greater initial (i.e. 30 min) and sustained (4 h AUC) increase in total AA, BCAA, EAA, NEAA and leucine concentrations compared with the solid MRP (each effect of FF; P < 0.05). Although there was no effect of FF on PP insulin response, glucose concentration was greater 1 and 2 h after the solid MRP was consumed (FF × time interaction; P < 0.05). For all PP time points combined, total AA concentration was positively associated with plasma insulin (r 0.25) and glucose (r 0.24) concentrations for the solid MRP but not for the beverage MRP. In conclusion, older adults can achieve higher plasma AA concentrations when a protein-containing MRP is ingested in beverage form. The implications of the higher AA availability on anabolic processes warrant investigation.

Effect of food form on postprandial plasma amino acid profiles in older adults

Purpose and MethodsTo assess the effect of food form on the postprandial (PP) plasma amino acid (AA) profile, 10 healthy older adults (5 men and 5 women, age 72 ± 2 y, BMI 26.0 ± 0.9 kg/m2) consumed energy and macronutrient matched test meals (~25% of subject's daily energy need; ~54% CHO, 21% Pro; 25% Fat) in beverage and solid form on separate days. Blood samples were taken during fasting (baseline) and throughout the 4‐hour PP period and plasma AA profiles (pmol/uL) were assessed using high performance liquid chromatography.ResultsThe consumption of each test meal led to an increase in total, branched chain (BCAA), essential (EAA), and non‐essential (NEAA) AA contents over the 4‐h period (time effect; p&lt;0.05). The beverage stimulated a greater increase in total, EAA and NEAA contents, but not BAA content, vs. the solid (effect of food form; p&lt;0.05). The beverage elicited higher plasma AA levels starting at 15 min PP which was maintained for the rest of the 4‐h period. The beverage also resulted in a greater total plasma AA 4‐h area under the curve (p&lt;0.05).ConclusionOlder adults can achieve higher plasma amino acid contents when a protein‐containing food is ingested in beverage form. Future research to explore the utility of this higher amino acid substrate availability on anabolic processes is needed.Support: NIH R01 AG021911, The Solae Company®, Purdue Ingest Behav Res Ctr and Bilsland Fellowship

Estimate of Daily Calorie Needs for a Neuromuscular Disease Patient Receiving Noninvasive Ventilation

The purpose of this report is to estimate the daily caloric intake needed by a person with substantial muscle wasting due to neuromuscular disease and who also uses a ventilator for substantial amounts of time. Although this study was done for a particular individual, its methodology is generalized to any nonambulatory neuromuscular disease patient. The author, the person chosen for this analysis, is a male, limb girdle muscular dystrophy patient, who uses noninvasive ventilation approximately 20 hrs/day. An experimental technique gave a range of energy requirements for the study individual of total energy expenditure (TEE) of 788 kcal/day < or = TEE (experimental) < or = 876 kcal/day, or an average of 832 kcal/day, and the model developed here gave a range of 801 kcal/day < or = TEE (model) < or = 871 kcal/day, or an average of 836 kcal/day. This article examines and then generalizes these results to develop a simple equation that clinicians and nutritionists may use to estimate daily energy needs for ventilated neuromuscular disease patients. Because severe muscle wasting--which we define for the purposes of this article to be <30% of normal--is assumed, this analysis represents a near minimum daily energy need.

Effects of diet and exercise on energy expenditure in postmenopausal women

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 24-wk diet + exercise (DE) or diet-only program on basal metabolic rate (BMR), bone mineral density (BMD), energy expended during daily activities, muscle strength, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in 40 postmenopausal women. Daily energy need was determined by measuring BMR and assessing physical activity with 8-d self-reported activity records. The DE group consumed 2092 kJ/d less than the daily energy need and walked and performed strength-training exercises during which they expended an additional 837 kJ/d. The two diet-only groups consumed either 2092 kJ/d (D-2092) or 2929 kJ/d (D-2929) less than the daily energy need. BMD, BMR, muscle strength, VO2max, and energy expended during lying, sitting, standing, and walking were measured at baseline and after 12 and 24 wk of treatment. A significant decrease in BMR and energy expended during sitting and walking occurred in all groups, with no significant differences observed among groups. Although the declines in BMR were significant, they were small and may not have been physiologically relevant. No changes in BMD or VO2max occurred, whereas strength increased significantly in the DE group. The results showed that postmenopausal women significantly improved their body composition over a period of 6 mo without experiencing a large decline in BMR, BMD, or select components of energy expenditure.

Effects of diet and exercise on common cardiovascular disease risk factors in moderately obese older women

Diet and exercise studies of premenopausal women have shown reductions in obesity and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Forty-one healthy, moderately obese (120-140% of ideal body weight, LBW), postmenopausal women (65.6 +/- 3.3 y) participating in 24-wk diet or diet + exercise programs were studied to determine whether similar CVD risk reduction would occur. Daily energy need (DEN) was estimated from basal energy expenditure and self-reported activity. The diet + exercise group (n = 16) reduced their daily energy intake (DEI) by 2092 kJ from their DEN and expended 837 kJ/d in walking and resistance exercise. The two diet-only groups (n = 13 and n = 12) reduced their DEI by 2092 and 2929 kJ from their DEN, respectively. Body weight, waist-to-hip and subscapula-to-triceps ratios, blood lipids (total, low-density-lipoprotein, and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerols), glucose, and insulin concentrations were measured at baseline and after 12 and 24 wk of diet and diet + exercise. Data were analyzed by using analysis of variance with repeated measures (P < or = 0.05) and Tukey's post hoc test. Loss of body weight was significant for all groups between baseline and 12 and 24 wk (baseline: 79.3 +/- 7.6 kg; 12 wk; 75.1 +/- 7.7 kg; 24 wk; 72.8 +/- 8.0 kg) but did not differ among groups. No significant time or treatment effects were observed between baseline and 24 wk for changes in mean blood lipid, glucose, and fasting insulin concentrations or measures of body fat distribution. Although 24 wk of diet or diet+exercise significantly reduced body weight in this group, this loss in body weight was not accompanied by a reduction of other commonly accepted CVD risks.