Energy balance
Fat-free mass-adjusted total and basal energy expenditure peaks at approximately 50% above adult levels around 1 year of age, then declines to adult baseline levels by age 20, remaining stable through age 60 before declining in older adults.
Your body's energy needs change predictably as you age. You burn significantly more energy relative to your size as a toddler (peaking around age 1) than as an adult. As you age from 20 to 60, your metabolic rate (adjusted for size) stabilizes. After 60, it declines. Do not assume your metabolic rate is constant or scales linearly with your weight; use age- and size-specific estimates for nutritional planning rather than simple weight-based ratios.
Fat-free mass–adjusted expenditure accelerates rapidly in neonates to ~50% above adult values at ~1 year; declines slowly to adult levels by ~20 years; remains stable in adulthood (20 to 60 years), even during pregnancy; then declines in older adults.
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=6421), diverse demographics (29 countries), and use of the gold-standard Doubly Labeled Water method.
Source
Daily energy expenditure through the human life course
Herman Pontzer et al. · Science · 2021
DOI 10.1126/science.abe5017
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →