Factors affecting energy expenditure.

Sixteen years ago I presented a paper on this topic to this Society (Miller & Mumford, 1966) and much of the subject matter was highly controversial: some might say it still is. However, it is my contention that if controversy exists today it is largely terminological, and therefore essential to define some of the terms used, such that any debate may be scientific rather than semantic. My earlier paper began with a traditional treatment of the first law of thermodynamics (I): A Body energy = energy intake energy expenditure (1) A B = I E In common with other authors at that time no units of measurement were indicated, despite the fact that it was common practice to measure intake as metabolizable energy but the other terms in gross energy; for human food the difference between gross and metabolizable energy was small (approximately 5%) but with the current fashion for high-fibre diets the error would be greater. In those days energy expenditure was conceptually made up of the basal metabolic rate (BMR) plus physical activity (A) plus specific dynamic action (SDA): E = BMR + A + SDA Indeed the Food and Agriculture Organization (1957) computed (Equation 3, W, weight in kg) the energy requirements of their reference man in terms of equation (2)

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