Examination of the normative DLW database showed an initial increase of TEE with age until a plateau from age 20 to 45 in women, followed by a decline (Figure 5-6). Men peaked around 35 years of age, and then declined (Figure 5-6). Increased TEE is related to greater heights (Figure 5-7) and weights (Figure 5-8). For adults, TEE was independent of BMI when the analysis was adjusted for height. Analyses indicated that the best predictions for TEE were obtained by fitting all the data separately for adults (ages 19 years and older), children and adolescents (ages 3 through 18 years), and young children (ages 0 through 2 years).

Gender-specific equations were found to be unnecessary in children less than 3 years of age. All data were entered into and analyzed with SPSS, version 10.0.

The PAL categories were defined as sedentary (PAL ≥ 1.0 < 1.4), low active (PAL ≥ 1.4 < 1.6), active (PAL ≥ 1.6 < 1.9), and very active (PAL ≥