Research Christmas 2020: House of God

Estimating my equilibrium energy intake during lockdown: very introspective study

R A Lewis

BMJ 2020; 371: m4561 (Published 16 December 2020) doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4561

Abstract

Objective

To estimate the daily dietary energy intake for me to maintain a constant body weight. How hard can it be?

Design

Very introspective study.

Setting

At home. In lockdown. (Except every Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning, when I went for a run.)

Participants

Me. n=1.

Main outcome measures

My weight, measured each day.

Results

Sleeping, I shed about a kilogram each night (1.07 (SD 0.25) kg). Running 5 km, I shed about half a kilogram (0.57 (SD 0.15) kg). My daily equilibrium energy intake is about 10 000 kJ (10 286 (SD 201) kJ). Every kJ above (or below) 10 000 kJ adds (or subtracts) about 40 mg (35.4 (SD 3.2) mg).

Conclusions

Body weight data show persistent variability, even when the screws of control are tightened and tightened.