Food in War Time

by Graham Lusk

THE BASAL METABOLISM OF MEN

Calculated from values of the basal metabolism determined by the methods of DuBois and applied to a table showing the average weights of 221,819 men of different ages and heights compiled from the statistics of the medico-actuarial investigation of 1912.

Age. Heat per square meter of surface	5 ft. 0 in.	5 ft. 2 in.	5 ft. 4 in.	5 ft. 6 in.	5 ft. 8 in.	5 ft. 10 in.	6 ft. 0 in.	6 ft. 2 in.	6 ft. 4 in.
	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.	Lbs. Cals.
15 years	107	112	118	126	134	142	152	162	172
44 calories	1510	1584	1658	1753	1837	1922	2006	2096	2186
20 years	117	122	128	136	144	152	161	171	181
40 calories	1430	1498	1565	1647	1719	1796	1868	1949	2035
25 years	122	126	133	141	149	157	167	179	189
40 calories	1459	1517	1594	1671	1738	1820	1896	1992	2083
30 years	126	130	136	144	152	161	172	184	196
40 calories	1478	1536	1604	1685	1757	1839	1920	2007	2112
35 years	128	132	138	146	155	165	176	189	201
40 calories	1488	1556	1613	1695	1767	1853	1939	2035	2136
40 years	131	135	141	149	158	168	180	193	206
40 calories	1498	1565	1623	1709	1781	1863	1959	2055	2160
45 years	133	137	143	151	160	170	182	195	209
40 calories	1507	1570	1632	1719	1791	1872	1968	2064	2169
50 years	134	138	144	152	161	171	183	197	211
40 calories	1517	1575	1642	1724	1796	1881	1973	2074	2184
55 years	135	139	145	153	163	173	184	198	212
37 calories	1449	1485	1548	1620	1692	1773	1854	1949	2052

The basal metabolism of an average boy of thirteen years of age weighing 80 pounds and of a height of 4 feet, 10 inches, may be calculated as 1525 calories per day. This is the same as that of a man twenty-five years old, weighing 126 pounds and 5 feet, 2 inches tall.

A boy thirteen years old and weighing 156 pounds, his height being 6 feet, 1 inch (there are such cases), would have a basal metabolism of 2300 calories, or larger than that of any grown man given in the table—larger than a man weighing 211 pounds and 6 feet, 4 inches in height. I personally know a boy of this age and size. His parents are said to have sent him to boarding school in order to reduce their food bills.

It is evident from this discussion that the food requirement of boys over twelve years old is about the same as that of men. The emaciation of the children of the poor probably reduces their requirement of food. It is not generally recognized that the boy needs as much food as his father. The requirements of girls have not been investigated, but they probably need as much as their mothers.

These data will give with close scientific precision the minimal requirement for energy which is necessary for the maintenance of the bed-ridden.

Ordinary life, however, is not constituted after this fashion. "By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread."

From the work of F. G. Benedict one may calculate the increase in the basal metabolism, as follows: