Assessment of energy and selected nutrient intakes, Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and body composition of female adolescents

Abstract

There have been scanty reports on the adolescences' energy intake (EI), selected nutrients intake (SNI) and body composition (BC) in the subjects of developing countries. The relationship between El and BC in adolescence is important because the adolescence years are periods of great physical and emotional changes during which a child develops and enters adulthood Cole et. al. (1997). The aims of the present study were first to obtain information on El, SNI and BC of thirty four apparently healthy Nigerian female adolescents aged 11-17 years residing in a residential institutionalized boarding school and to compare the information obtained with international standards or with other countries in the industrialized world. The food intake (FI) of the individual subjects was assessed b direct weighing for seven consecutive days including weekends, and its energy value (EV) was determined by means of ballistic bomb calorimeter. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) values were calculated according to standard equations of Food and Agriculture Organization. World Health Organization/United Nations University FAO/WHO/UNU, (1985). Percentage total body using population specific equations. The subjects means daily El was found to be 6.9 MJ/d or 0 15 My/kg body weight, which is lower than the calculated energy requirements (ER) of 8.8. Mj/d for female adolescents aged 12-14 years FAO/WHO/UNU, (1985). The contributions of the specific nutrients and cach meal to the total El were carbohydrate, protein and fat 13.0, 17.0 and 10.0% and breakfast. lunch and supper 20.5, 56.4 and 23.1% of energy. However, the mean BMR was 5.5 Mj/d, which is comparable with that given by FAO/WHO/UNU, (1985) for female adolescents aged 13-14 years and that reported by Cole et al., (1997) for female adolescents aged 11-17 years. The mean TBF % was found to be 22.2 and the mean body mass index (BMI kg/m2) was 19.2 kg/m2 respectively. The study shows that the comparatively low mean El of the female adolescents in the present study may be indicative of energy deficiency in their meals. This assumption is also reflected in their BC values Therefore, the study suggests more extensive studies in Nigerian population of El, energy expenditure (EE) and BC, which take into account differences in methodology, social status, education, age, sex. ethnicity and geographical region.