Practice Consideration
Dietitians use predictive equations to estimate a patient’s energy requirements and identify potential deficiencies. This evaluation is a core part of the Nutrition Care Plan, supporting monitoring of weight and BMI trends over time. Tracking these changes enables practitioners to determine when supplementary nutrition is needed to optimise outcomes.
Predictive equations (e.g., Harris–Benedict, Mifflin–St Jeor, Penn State for critical illness) are recommended when indirect calorimetry is not available, though accuracy may vary by age, body composition, and clinical condition. Evidence-based guidelines—including those from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (1), the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (2), and Dietitians Australia (3)—emphasise combining predictive methods with clinical judgment and regular reassessment of weight, dietary intake, and functional status to guide safe and effective nutrition interventions.
References
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Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Guidelines for the provision and assessment of nutrition support therapy in the adult critically ill patient. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2021;45(1):15–24.
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Singer P, Blaser AR, Berger MM, Alhazzani W, Calder PC, Casaer MP, et al. ESPEN guideline on clinical nutrition in the intensive care unit. Clin Nutr. 2019;38(1):48–79.
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Dietitians Australia. Adult weight management clinical practice guidelines. Canberra (ACT): Dietitians Australia; 2022.