Factorial estimation of daily energy expenditure using a simplified method was improved by adjustment for excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and thermic effect of food

This study validated a simplified factorial method for measuring energy expenditure (EE) against EE measured by doubly labelled water (DEE), and investigated whether adjustment for excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and thermic effect of food (TEF) as described by Institute of Medicine (2002) improved the factorial measure. Seventeen normal weight subjects (10 females, seven males) were recruited from among university staff and students. Factorial EE was measured using a 16-activity category method, published energy costs of activities and measured basal metabolic rate, before (FEE) and after (FEEadj) adjustment for EPOC and TEF, and by DEE. FEE underestimated daily EE by 14.6% relative to DEE (P=0.000), but this underestimate was improved to 5.1% (P=0.071) when FEE was adjusted for EPOC and TEF. Individual differences between DEE and FEEadj ranged from -20.2 to 17.6%, with 88% of subjects showing differences of less than 712%.