Which equation is used to calculate REE and RQ from VO2 and VCO2?

Which equation is used to calculate REE and RQ from VO2 and VCO2?

• A. Weir equation
• B. Harris-Benedict
• C. Mifflin-St Jeor
• D. Owen equation

Answer: (A)

Gas exchange data, specifically VO2 and VCO2, let you estimate energy use and fuel mix. The Weir equation is the standard way to translate VO2 and VCO2 into resting energy expenditure. A common form is REE = 1.44 × [3.941 × VO2 + 1.106 × VCO2], with VO2 and VCO2 in liters per minute, giving kcal per day. The respiratory quotient, which reflects substrate use, is calculated directly from the data as RQ = VCO2 / VO2. The other predictive equations (which don’t use gas exchange) estimate energy needs from height, weight, age, and sex rather than VO2 and VCO2. So the Weir equation is the method to derive REE from VO2 and VCO2, while RQ comes from their ratio.

Gas exchange data, specifically VO2 and VCO2, let you estimate energy use and fuel mix. The Weir equation is the standard way to translate VO2 and VCO2 into resting energy expenditure. A common form is REE = 1.44 × [3.941 × VO2 + 1.106 × VCO2], with VO2 and VCO2 in liters per minute, giving kcal per day. The respiratory quotient, which reflects substrate use, is calculated directly from the data as RQ = VCO2 / VO2. The other predictive equations (which don’t use gas exchange) estimate energy needs from height, weight, age, and sex rather than VO2 and VCO2. So the Weir equation is the method to derive REE from VO2 and VCO2, while RQ comes from their ratio.