Author Question: The RDA values for essential nutrients are intended to meet the needs of 97-98 of the healthy ... (Read 39 times)

cagreen833 · **on:** Aug 20, 2018

The RDA values for essential nutrients are intended to meet the needs of 97-98 of the healthy population. The EER values, in contrast, are much less generous. Why is there such a difference in the proportion of the population whose needs are met by the RDA versus the EER?

Question 2

Body mass index is unsuitable for use with:
a. adolescents.
b. casual exercisers.
c. women younger than 50.
d. Caucasians.
e. pregnant women.

vkodali · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 20, 2018

Answer to Question 1

If the RDA values were adequate for only 50 of healthy adults, then only 50 or fewer of all people adhering to these recommendations would get enough of these micronutrients for their bodies' needs. The remainder of the people would be deficient in them. Instead, RDA values are generous enough to be adequate for almost all healthy people and thus prevent deficiencies.
The EER values are set mid-way along the population curve because most people obtain too much energy for their bodies' needs. This results in unnecessary weight gains with risk to health. The DRI committee has purposefully set the EER value at a less generous level so that most people adhering to them do not exceed their energy needs for the day.

Answer to Question 2

e