Birthweight (BW) has been associated with anthropometry, body composition and physical fitness during growth and development of children. However, less is known about the mediation effect of those variables on the relationship between BW and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in children.

To analyse the mediation effect of anthropometry, body composition and physical fitness on the association between BW and BMR in children.

In total, 499 children (254 boys, 245 girls) aged 7–10 years were included. Anthropometry (weight, height, head, waist and hip circumferences), body composition (skinfolds thickness, body fat percentage), physical fitness (handgrip strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, muscular explosive power, agility, running speed) and BMR were evaluated. The analyses were conducted by: single-mediator analysis (SMA) and multi-mediator analysis (MMA).

The SMA indicates height, head, waist and hip circumferences and handgrip strength as significant mediators of BW on BMR for boys and height, hip circumference and handgrip strength as significant mediators of BW on BMR for girls. In MMA for girls, there were significant indirect effects for height, hip circumference and handgrip strength, with 79.08% of percent mediation. For boys, the head and waist circumferences mediation had a significant indirect effect, with 83.37% of percent mediation.

The anthropometric variables associated with BW were body height, head, hip and waist circumferences for boys and body height and hip circumference for girls. The current study provides new evidence that height and handgrip strength during childhood mediated the relationship between BW and BMR.

To measure BMR in a probability sample of adults from an urban city of Brazil and to compare indirectly measured BMR (BMRi) with BMR predicted from different equations.

BMR data were obtained by indirect calorimetry and estimated by different predictive equations (Schofield; Harris and Benedict; Henry and Rees). Anthropometric and body composition measures were also obtained.

The Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Survey (PNAFS), a household survey conducted in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

Representative sample of 529 adults (aged ≥20 years; 339 females) living in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

Mean BMRi values were 5839·7 (se 73·9) kJ/d and 4758·1 (se 39·5) kJ/d for men and women, respectively. Predicted BMR by all equations was significantly higher (difference between means and 95 % CI did not include zero) than BMRi in both men and women of all ages. Overall bias in BMR (predicted BMR minus BMRi) using the Schofield equations (overestimation of about 20 %) was higher than when using the Henry and Rees equations (13 % and 16 % overestimation for males and females, respectively). The percentage of individuals whose BMR predicted by the Schofield equations fell within 10 % of BMRi was very low (7·8 % and 14·1 % of males and females, respectively).

Current available predictive equations of BMR are not adequate to estimate BMR in Brazilians living in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

To estimate the energy requirements of infants from total energy expenditure and energy deposition during growth.

Energy requirements during infancy were estimated from total energy expenditure measured by the doubly labelled water method and energy deposition based on measured protein and fat gains.

Database on the total energy expenditure and energy deposition of infants was compiled from available studies conducted in China, Chile, Gambia, Mexico, Netherlands, UK, and USA.

Healthy, term infants.

Total energy requirements (kJ day−1) increased with age and were higher in boys than girls due to differences in weight. Energy requirements decreased from 473 kJ kg−1 per day for boys and 447 kJ kg−1 per day for girls at 1 month of age to 337 kJ kg−1 per day for boys and 341 kJ kg−1 per day for girls at 6 months of age, and thereafter tended to plateau. Energy deposition as a percentage of total energy requirements decreased from 40% at 1 month to 3% at 12 months of age. These estimates are 10–32% lower than the 1985 FAO/WHO/UNU recommendations which were based on observed energy intakes of infants.

Recommendations for the energy intake of infants should be revised based on new estimates of total energy expenditure and energy deposition.

To cross-validate three predictive set of equations for basal metabolic rate (BMR) developed by Schofield (Schofield database), Henry (Oxford database) and Cole (Oxford database) using mean values for age, weight, height and BMR of published studies.

Literature review of studies published from 1985 to March 2002.

All studies selected used appropriate methods and followed conditions that met the criteria established for basal metabolism, were performed in healthy adults, and were not part of the Schofield or Oxford database.

A total of 261 groups of men and women from 175 studies were selected and categorised in three age groups (18.5–29.9, 30.0–59.9, ≥60 years old) and three body mass index (BMI) groups (normal weight, overweight and obese).

Linear regression and concordance correlation analysis showed that the three sets of equations had the same association and agreement with measured BMR, across gender, age, and BMI groups. The agreement of all equations was moderate for men and poor for women. The lowest mean squared prediction errors (MSPRs) were given by Henry equations in men and Cole equations in women. Henry and Cole equations gave lower values than Schofield equations, except for men over 60 years of age. Henry equations were the most accurate in men. None of the three equations performed consistently better in women.

These results support the use of Henry equations in men with a wide range of age and BMI. None of the proposed predictive equations seem to be appropriate to estimate BMR in women.