Abstract

HERNANDEZ TRIANA, Manuel. Requirement of food energy for the Cuban adult population. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2005, vol.43, n.1. ISSN 0253-1751.

The requirement of food energy in adults is the amount of energy necessary to balance the energy output and to maintain the height, constitution, indicated and desired physical activity level and a good health status. The standing values for the Cuban population were set by the Institute of Nuitrition in 1996. The new values of requirements for the cuban population starting from 2004 and the methodology for their estimation in population groups, based on height and the suitable weight for it in order to attain a body mass index of 21, are given in this paper. The new proposal has been made aimed at covering the nutritional requirements of this population group. Attention has been focused on overweight and chronic diseases in the Cuban population and the older adult. The values of food energy recommended to the adult population differ only 1 % from the previous ones and they have been structured according to the guidelines established by the FAO/WHO/UNU Committee of Energy Experts in 2004.

Keywords : Food energy; requirements; adults; Cuban population; recommendations; estimation; method.