Weight - Estimated Caloric Intake - Primary Care Provider Resource for Spinal Cord Injury

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If laboratory testing is not available, Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) can be estimated by using Harris-Benedict equation.

Goal: Gain Weight or Maintain Current Weight

Men
Estimated REE = 88.362 + (13.397 x weight in kg) + (4.799 x height in cm) - (5.677 x age)

Women
Estimated REE = 447.593 + (9.247 x weight in kg) + (3.098 x height in cm) - (4.330 x age)

Goal: Weight Loss
If the patient is overweight or obese, above calculations should be based on patient's target weight rather than the patient's current weight.

Considerations
Individuals with chronic SCI tend to have markedly higher than recommended levels dietary fat and carbohydrate (CHO) intake. Such a diet promotes poor metabolic health and excess adipose tissue accumulation.
Nutritional guidance should promote general health with emphasis on for SCI-specific health concerns

Immune System
Bowel Management
Skin
Musculoskeletal System

General Recommendation
Consult with a professional dietitian/nutritionist (preferably knowledgeable in SCI health-related issues) to achieve individualized health-related goals.

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System provides this website as an auxiliary resource for the primary care of patients with spinal cord injury.The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90SIMS0020). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.