[Energy zero balance study on the energy intake of healthy adults engaged in light physical activities in southern China].

OBJECTIVE:Using an energy zero balance method to investigate and analyze the level of dietary energy intake of healthy adults in southern China, in order to provide basic data for revising Chinese energy DRIs. METHODS:A total of 32 healthy adults engaged in light physical activities were recruited randomly. The food intake of each subject including meals and snacks was weighed and made records at same days intervals in a period of 2 month (covering Monday to Sunday of a week). The energy intake was calculated and adjusted with the change of body weight according to the energy balance principle. RESULTS:The average total energy intake of subjects in energy zero balance was (8.895 +/- 1.535) MJ/d, (10.070 +/- 1.150) MJ/d for male and (7.719 +/- 0.765) MJ/d for female. CONCLUSION:The energy intake of healthy adults at zero balance could be measured at same days intervals within a 2 month period. The method was convenient, economical, available and practicable.