Adequacy of basal metabolic rate prediction equations in individuals with severe obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The determination of energy requirements in clinical practice is based on basal metabolic rate (BMR), frequently predicted by equations that may not be suitable for individuals with severe obesity. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the accuracy and precision of BMR prediction equations in adults with severe obesity. Four databases were searched in March 2021 and updated in May 2023. Eligible studies compared BMR prediction equations with BMR measured by indirect calorimetry. Forty studies (age: 28-55 years, BMI: 40.0-62.4 kg/m2) were included, most of them with a high risk of bias. Studies reporting bias (difference between estimated and measured BMR) were included in the meta-analysis (n = 20). Six equations were meta-analyzed: Harris & Benedict (1919); WHO (weight) (1985); Owen (1986); Mifflin (1990); Bernstein (1983); and Cunningham (1980). The most accurate and precise equations in the overall analysis were WHO (-12.44 kcal/d; 95%CI: -81.4; 56.5 kcal/d) and Harris & Benedict (-18.9 kcal/d; 95%CI -73.2; 35.2 kcal/d). All the other equations tended to underestimate BMR. Harris & Benedict and WHO were the equations with higher accuracy and precision in predicting BMR in individuals with severe obesity. Additional analyses suggested that equations may perform differently according to obesity BMI ranges, which warrants further investigation.

Methodological aspects of the anthropometric assessment in the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019): a population-based household survey.

The article presents methodological aspects of anthropometric assessment of nutritional status in children under five years of age and their biological mothers. It discusses the strategies used for training and data collection in the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019). ENANI-2019 is a population-based household survey conducted in 123 municipalities in Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District. The anthropometric measurements were body mass and length/stature. The equipment was purchased according to its measurement capacity and precision, portability, and cost-benefit ratio after an extensive market search. The study used internationally established procedures described in manuals, videos, and support material developed for the study by a group of experts. The interviewers were trained to perform the anthropometric measurements and were assessed according to technical measurement error, which was considered adequate (0.30cm) for the children's length/stature measurements. Measurement errors were identified, and the interviewers were retrained when necessary. Of the 14,558 children in the sample, body mass and length/stature measurements were taken in duplicate in 13,835 and 13,693 children, respectively. The standardized methodological aspects will be helpful in future population studies and were essential for obtaining greater reliability in the data for generating current evidence on the anthropometric assessment of the nutritional status of Brazilian children under five years of age, allowing new perspectives for public policy development.

Tendência do nível de atividade física ocupacional e estado nutricional de adultos ao longo de quatro décadas no Brasil / Trend of adults' occupational physical activity levels and nutritional status over four decades in Brazil

Resumo Objetivo: avaliar a tendência do nível de atividade física ocupacional (Nafo) e o estado nutricional (EN) de adultos (≥ 20 anos) em pesquisas nacionais brasileiras realizadas ao longo de quatro décadas. Métodos: os dados declarados da ocupação principal foram estratificados em três Nafo (leve, moderado e pesado) segundo as classificações vigentes à época das pesquisas. O EN foi determinado segundo a classificação da OMS baseada no índice de massa corporal (IMC, kg.m-2) como baixo peso (IMC < 18,5), adequado (18,5 ≤ IMC < 25) e sobrepeso (IMC ≥ 25). Todas as estimativas foram calculadas usando os pesos amostrais das pesquisas. Resultados: a população com ocupação declarada aumentou no período, com mais Nafo moderado nos anos 1970 e migrando para Nafo leve ao final dos anos 2000. A prevalência de baixo peso diminuiu e a de sobrepeso aumentou substancialmente para todas as categorias de Nafo. O sobrepeso variou de 27,6 a 49,7% no Nafo leve e de 12,7 a 43,3% no Nafo pesado. Conclusões: apesar da limitação do estudo (atividade física estimada pela ocupação declarada sem considerar a evolução/modificação dos processos de trabalho), conclui-se que os trabalhadores no Brasil apresentam balanço energético positivo independente do Nafo.

Abstract Objective: to evaluate the trend of adults' (≥ 20 years) occupational physical activity levels and nutritional status in Brazilian national surveys carried out over four decades. Methods: the declared data regarding main occupation was stratified in three physical activity levels (light, moderate, and heavy) according to the classifications in force when the surveys were conducted. The nutritional status was determined according to the World Health Organization classification based on the body mass index (BMI, kg.m-2) as underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal (18,5 ≤ IMC < 25) and overweight (BMI ≥ 25). All estimates were calculated using the sampling weights from the surveys. Results: the population with declared occupation increased in the period, with greater moderate physical activity levels in the 1970's and shifting to light in the 2000's. The prevalence of underweight decreased and of overweight increased substantially for all physical activity levels. Overweight ranged from 27.6 to 49.7% in light levels and from 12.7 to 43.3% in heavy levels. Conclusions: despite the limitations of the study (the physical activity levels were estimated by declared occupation and did not consider the development/modification of labor processes), we concluded that workers in Brazil present a positive energy balance regardless of their occupational physical activity levels.