The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are a set of reference values that encompass a safe range of intake and provide recommended nutrient intakes for the United States and Canada. The DRIs for energy are used widely to provide guidance for maintaining energy balance on both an individual and group level.

U.S. and Canadian governments asked the National Academies to convene an expert committee to examine available evidence and provide updated Estimated Energy Requirements (EERs) for their populations. The resulting report presents EER equations that provide a baseline for dietary planners and assessors who are estimating energy needs and monitoring energy balance to enhance the general health of individuals and populations.

• Front Matter
• Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Overview of the DRI Process
• 3 Methodological Approach to Gathering Evidence
• 4 Factors Affecting Energy Expenditure and Requirements
• 5 Development of Prediction Equations for Estimated Energy Requirements
• 6 Assessing Energy Intakes, Physical Activity, and Indicators of Overweight and Obesity
• 7 Applications of the Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy
• 8 Risk Characterization and Public Health Implications
• 9 Research Recommendations
• Appendix A: Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Appendix B: Committee Member Biographies
• Appendix C: Open-Session Agendas
• Appendix D: Literature Search Strategies and Results
• Appendix E: Key Questions and Eligibility Criteria
• Appendix F: AMSTAR 2 Tool
• Appendix G: Data Analysis Report
• Appendix H: Characteristics of the DLW Database
• Appendix I: Characteristics of the DLW Validation Studies
• Appendix J: Summary of Data Extracted from Systematic Reviews and Other Reviewed Literature
• Appendix K: Interview Processes Used in National Surveys
• Appendix L: National Survey Data from the United States and Canada
• Appendix M: Estimated Energy Requirements by Body Weight Status