Experimental data are often only available for a limited age/gender group. The setting of recommendations for other groups may require extrapolation of the data. This is sometimes based on energy requirements, but more commonly on a metabolic body weight.
Extrapolations from adult Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) to children’s requirements were mostly done using the formula:
EARchild = EARadult x F
where F = (Weightchild/Weightadult)0.75 x (1 + growth factor).