Page 1 of 4

/mtal 12
COMPUTATIONS FOR DBW & TEA INCLUDING INTERPRETATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

I. Infants:
a. Computing the desirable body weight (DBW)
i. For infants age 1-6 months:
DBW (gm) = birth weight (gm) + (age in months x 600)
Example: Given = 6 lbs.
= 3 months baby
DBW (gm) = 6 lbs. (454 gm) + (3 months x 600)
= 2724 + (3 x 600)
= 2724 + 1800
= 4524 gm or 4.5 kg or 5 kg; 9.9 lbs. or 10 lbs.

ii. For infants age 7-12 months:
DBW (gm) = birth weight (gm) + (age in months x 500)

b. Short method of computing desirable body weight in infants
DBW (kg) = (age in months / 2) + 3
Example: DBW (kg) = (3 months / 2) + 3
= 1.5 + 3
= 4.5 kg or 5 kg

c. Computing the total energy allowance (TEA) of infants
TEA = 110 or 120 cal / kg DBW Note:
Example: TEA = 5kg x 120 cal 1-6 mos = 120 cal/kg DBW
= 600 cal/day 7-12 mos = 110 cal/kg DBW

Points to Consider:
1. If the birth weight of the infant is given in pounds, convert first the birth weight in grams.
1 lb = 454 grams
2. If the birth weight of the infant is unknown, use 3000 grams as the birth weight

II. Children: (2-12 years old)
a. Computation for the desirable body weight (DBW):
DBW (kg) = (No. of yrs. x 2) + 8
Example: Given: 4 years old girl
DBW (kg) = (4 yrs. x 2) + 8
= 8 + 8
= 16 kg

b. Computation for the total energy allowance (TEA)
TEA = 1000 + (100 x age in years)
Example: Given 4 years old
TEA = 1000 + (100 x 4)
= 1000 + 400
= 1400 calories

III. Adults: (13 and above)
a. Computation for the Desirable Body Weight (DBW)
1. Use of Standard Tables: Standard Weight for Filipinos
2. In the absence of the Standard Tables, use the Tanhausers Method
FORMULA: DBW (kg) = (Height (cm) 100) 10%
Example: Given: Male = 5 ft and 5 inches tall
= 5 x 12 = 60 + 5 = 65 inches
= 65 inches x 2.54
= 165.1 cm
DBW = (165.1 100) 10%
= 65.1 (10%)
= 65.1 6.51
= 58.59 kg or 59 kg


Page 2 of 4

/mtal 12
b. Computation for the total energy allowance (TEA)
In computing the TEA for adults, 2 methods could be used and they are the following:











Description of Activities:

1. Bedrest - hospital patients
2. Sedentary - secretary, clerk, typist (using an electric typewriter), administrator, cashier,
bank teller, executives
3. Light - teacher, nurse, student, laboratory technician, housewife with maids
4. Moderate - housewife without maids, vendor, mechanic, jeepney and car driver
5. Heavy - farmer, laborer, cargador, miner, fisherman, heavy equipment operator

IV. Computation in determining the distribution of carbohydrates, proteins and fats:

There are two methods:

Steps for Method I:
1. Determine the desirable body weight
2. Determine the type of activity and caloric allowance for such activity
3. Multiply the DBW with the activity (calories)
Example: Given: DBW = 59 kg
Activity = sedentary = 30 Cal/kg DBW/day
DBW = 59 kg x 30 cal
= 1770 Cal per day
4. Percentage distribution:
a. CHO = 50-70% of the TEA
b. CHON = 10-20% of the TEA
c. Fats = 25-35% of the TEA
Example: For a normal diet, allot 50% of the TEA for CHO, 20% of the TEA for CHON and
30% of the TEA for fats

CHO = 1770 x 0.50 = 885 Cal
CHON = 1770 x 0.20 = 354 Cal
Fats = 1770 x 0.30 = 531 Cal

5. Calculate the number of grams of CHO, CHON, and fats by dividing the corresponding distributions by
the physiological fuel values.
CHO = 885/4 = 221.25 gm
CHON = 354/4 = 88.5 gm
Fats = 531/9 = 59 gm

Diet Rx = 1770 Calories: CHO = 221 gm; CHON = 89 gm; Fats = 59 gm

Steps for Method II:
Determine first the CHON calories according to the normal allowance in gm/kg DBW and divide the non-
protein calories (NPC) into:
CHO = 55-80% or an average of 70%
Fats = 20-45% or an average of 30%

1. Determine the DBW
= 59 kg

Method I:
TEA = Basal metabolic rate (1 cal/kg DBW/hr)
+ Physical activity (% above basal)
Method II:
TEA = Cal/kg DBW/day
Bedrest 10% 25 Cal
Sedentary 30% 30 Cal
Light 50% 35 Cal
Moderate 75% 40 Cal
Heavy 100% 45 Cal
Page 3 of 4

/mtal 12
2. Determine the activity
= Sedentary = 30 Cal /kg DBW
3. Determine the TEA
TEA = 59 kg x 30 Cal
= 1770 Cal
4. Determine the CHON allowance:
a. Infants = 2.5-3.0 gm/kg DBW
b. Children = 2.0 gm/kg DBW
c. Adolescents = 1.5 gm/kg DBW
d. Adult = 1.1 gm/kg DBW

Example: CHON = 59 kg x 1.1 gm
= 64.9 or 65 gm
5. Determine the calories of CHON by multiplying the allowance with the physiological fuel value of CHON
Calorie for CHON = 65 gm x 4
= 260 Cal
6. Determine the non-protein calories (NPC) by subtracting the Cal for CHON from the TEA
NPC = 1770 260
= 1510 Cal
7. Determine the Cal for CHO and fats by using the allowance 70% for CHO and 30% for fats
CHO = 1510 x 0.70 = 1057 Cal
Fats = 1510 x 0.30 = 453 Cal
8. Determine the grams of CHO and fats by dividing the corresponding calorie distribution by the
physiological fuel value
CHO = 1057 / 4 = 264.2 gm
Fats = 453 / 9 = 50.3 gm

Diet Rx = 1770 Calories: CHO = 264 gm; CHON = 65 gm; Fats = 50 gm

V. How to use the food exchange list in meal planning:

LIST FOOD MEASURE CHO
(gm)
CHON
(gm)
FATS
(gm)
CALORIES
1A Veg. A (non-starchy) 1 cup raw
cup, cooked
1.5
1.5
0.5
0.5
8
8
1B Veg. B (starchy) cup raw 3 1 16
II Fruit Varies 10 40
III Milk evap
Whole
Powdered
Skim
cup
1 cup
4 tbsp
4 tbsp
12
12
12
12
8
8
8
8
10
10
10
170
170
170
80
IV Rice Varies 23 2 100
V Meat lean
Medium Fat
High Fat
Varies
Varies
Varies
8
8
8
2
7
10
50
95
122
VI Fats 1 tsp 5 45
VII Sugar 1 tsp 5 20


Using the prescription of 1770 Calories: CHO = 221 gm; CHON = 89 gm; Fats = 59 gm. To translate the
prescription into food exchanges the procedure is as follows:

1. List down all foods furnishing CHO i.e., vegetable, fruit, milk, rice and sugar.
a. It is customary to allow 1-2 servings of List 1A & B vegetables per day
b. Allow 1-3 tsp. of sugar per day unless contraindicated
c. Unless there is a drastic calorie/CHO restriction, 3-4 servings of fruits are allowed per day
d. The amount of milk allowed depends upon the patients needs, food habits and other economic
considerations
2. To determine how many rice exchanges:
a. Add the CHO from vegetables, fruits, milk and sugar
b. Subtract this sum from the prescribed CHO
c. Divide the difference by 23 (gm of CHO furnished by 1 rice exchange)
Page 4 of 4

/mtal 12
d. The nearest whole quotient is the number of rice exchange allowed
3. To determine how many meat exchanges are allowed:
a. Add the CHON furnished by the food groups already listed
b. Subtract this sum from the prescribed CHON
c. Divide the difference by 8 (gm of CHON per meat exchange)
d. The nearest whole quotient is the number of meat exchange allowed
4. Follow the same procedure for fat using 5 as the divisor since 1 fat exchange contains 5 gm fats

SAMPLE CALCULATION:
FOODS # of
exchanges
CHO
(gm)
CHON
(gm)
Fats
(gm)
CALORIES
Veg 1 A
Veg 1 B
Fruits
Milk
Sugar
Partial sum =

264 gm (prescribed CHO)
- 80 gm (partial sum of CHO)
184 gm /23 = 8 no. of rice exchanges

Rice
Partial sum =

-
2
3
2
4






8
-
6
30
24
20
80





184
-
2

16







16
34



20









32
120
340
80






800
65 gm (prescribed CHON)
- 34 gm (partial sum of CHON)
31 gm/8 = 3.8 or 4 no. of meat exchange

Meat, lean
Partial sum =





4









32




8
28




200
50 gm (prescribed fat)
- 28 gm (partial sum of fat)
22 gm/5 = 4.4 no. of fat exchange

Fats





4




20




180
TOTAL 264 66 48 1752

To check:
CHO = 264 x 4 CHON = 66 x 4 Fats = 48 x 9
= 1056 calories = 264 calories = 432 calories = 1752 calories

Reminder:
An allowance of 5 gm the prescribed amount for CHO, CHON and fats and + 50 calories for energy is allowed.