Accuracy of total energy expenditure predictive equations after a massive weight loss induced by bariatric surgery

Summary Background and aims Predictive equations remain the clinical tool of choice to estimate the energy expenditure, however, poor accuracy has been found when applied in patients with severe obesity. The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of the total energy expenditure (TEE) those obtained by predictive equations of resting energy expenditure (REE) times individual estimates of metabolic equivalents (MET), taking as reference the TEE measured by doubly labeled water (DLW), before, six and twelve months after bariatric surgery. Subjects and methods Twenty class III obese women (age: 29.4 ± 5.1 years; BMI: 44.9 ± 2.5 kg/m2 ), approved for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass participated in this study. TEE and body composition was measured after administration of a fixed dose of DLW. Predictive equations of REE were selected: Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), World Health Organization, Oxford, Harris–Benedict, Mifflin, De Lorenzo, Lazzer and Muller and their collaborators. The MET values were obtained individually by triaxial accelerometer. Results The patients showed 65% of excess weight loss. The body fat mass decreased 17% after 1 year of surgery. TEE (2930 ± 525 kcal.day−1 ) decreased by 20% (p