Energy Balance and Composition of Body Weight

Weight gain composition of growing very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants can be assessed by a combined technique of nutrient balance and indirect calorimetry measurement. Both protein and energy intakes play an important role in the rate of growth and in the amount of non-protein energy (i.e. fat) storage. High energy intake is not always correlated with a higher rate of growth and can lead to high fat storage.