Practice Consideration
Presenting Estimated Energy Intake: The Weighted Average Method
A dietitian wishing to create a nutrition progress note will first need to summarize the patient's energy intake. That summary can be expressed in any one of three ways: as a range, a simple average or a weighted average. The following table presents the results of the Estimating Energy Needs activity above. Having selected the weighted average method out of the three options, it explains the rationale for doing so.(1,2,3)
References
1. Mifflin MD, St-Jeor S, Hill LA, et al. A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990; 51: 241-247.
2. Reeves M, Capra S. Predicting energy requirements in the clinical setting: are current methods evidence based? Nutr Rev. 2003; 61: 143-151.
3. Thomas DM, Gonzalez MC, Pereira AZ, Redman LM, Heymsfield, SB. Time to Correctly Predict the Amount of Weight Loss with Dieting. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014; 114: 857-861.
| Type of Calculation | Formula/Actual Result from Calculations | Potential Nutrition Progress Note Entry |
| Range (Accurate but not useful) |
Using Figures from Activity 1.2 Mon through Sat = 3 198 − 500 = 2 698 Sun = 4 048 − 500 = 3 548 Range = 2 698 to 3 548 kcal per day |
Range of energy intake to maintain current weight is approximately 2 700 to 3 550 kcal per day. Note – this method is accurate, but the range is too broad to be useful |
| Simple Average (Inaccurate result − Not appropriate here) |
Using Figures from Activity 1.2 (Mon through Sat kcal + Sunday kcal) ÷ 2 = (3 198 + 4 048) ÷ 2 = 7 246 ÷ 2 Simple Average = 3 623 |
Estimated average intake to maintain current weight is 3 123 kcal per day. Note − since only one day is significantly higher than the other six, this method overestimates the impact of Sunday's intake. |
| Weighted Average (Most appropriate here) |
Using Figures from Activity 1.2 (estimated daily intake) (Mon through Sat kcal x 6 days) + (Sun x 1 day) ÷ 7 = (3 198 x 6) + (4 048 x 1) ÷ 7 = (19 188 + 4 048) ÷ 7 = 23 236 ÷ 7 Weighted Average = 3 319.4 (round to 3 300) To maintain weight = 3 300 − 500 = 2800 kcal per day Using Figures from Activity 1.3 (estimated average exchanges) To maintain weight = 3 300 − 500 = 2800 kcal per day |
Estimated average intake to maintain current weight is 2 800 kcal per day. Note − this is the preferred method since it incorporates the two intake estimates AND is expressed as a single number |
References
1. Mifflin MD, St-Jeor S, Hill LA, et al. A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990; 51: 241-247.
2. Reeves M, Capra S. Predicting energy requirements in the clinical setting: are current methods evidence based? Nutr Rev. 2003; 61: 143-151.
3. Thomas DM, Gonzalez MC, Pereira AZ, Redman LM, Heymsfield, SB. Time to Correctly Predict the Amount of Weight Loss with Dieting. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014; 114: 857-861.
Updated October 09, 2017