Instructions on how to estimate the healthy weight for an average adult amputee, and the caloric intake required to maintain that weight. Thank you to Curtis McCauley, CSCS, at Chapter 126 in Bristol, CT, for putting together this slideshow and sharing it with the Connecticut Amputee Network. Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CTamputeenetwork/ ©2017 Curtis McCauley, CSCS

1. DETERMINING APPROPRIATE
CALORIC INTAKE FOR AN
AMPUTEE
DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A REGISTERED DIETITIAN.
YOUR CALORIE NEEDS MAY VARY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE
HEALING PROCESS AS WELL AS UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID…

2. KEEP IN MIND…

3. CALCULATE YOUR IDEAL BODYWEIGHT PRE
AMPUTATION (AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION)
FOR MEN
• 106 pounds for the first 5 feet
• Add 6 pounds for every inch above
5 feet
• Ex Curt: = 6 ft 5in = 5 feet plus 17
remaining inches
• 106 + (17 x 6) = 106lbs + 102lbs
• Ideal wt = 208lbs
FOR WOMEN
• 100 pounds for the first 5 feet
• Add 5 pounds for every inch
above 5 feet
• Ex: 5 ft 4 inches
• 100 + (4 x 5) = 100lbs + 20lbs
• Ideal wt = 120lbs

4. FIND PERCENTAGE OF BODY WEIGHT LOSS
FROM AMPUTATION (AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION)
• Use standardized chart to determine percentage loss
• Ex: A below knee amputee loses %5.9 or 0.059 percent of his
starting ideal bodyweight
• REMAINING PERCENTAGE OF BODYWIEGHT
• 100- 5.9 = %94.1

5. IDEAL BODYWEIGHT POST AMPUTATION
REMAINING BODYWEIGHT PERCENT X IDEAL BODYWEIGHT (PRE
AMPUTATION)
EX: CURT AS BKA
.941 X 208LBS = 195.7LBS IDEAL
BW

6. DETERMINE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
COEFFIECNET (MAKE AN ESTIMATE NOW, WE’LL GET MORE EXACT IN A SECOND)
MEN
• Sedentary – 1.0
• Low Activity – 1.11
• Active – 1.25
• Very Active – 1.48
WOMEN
• Sedentary – 1.0
• Low Activity – 1.12
• Active – 1.27
• Activity 1.45

7. ESTIMATED ENERGY EXPENDITURE
EQUATION
Visit TDEEcalculator.net
Insert your ideal post amputation bodyweight
THEN start again using your current bodyweight
Compare and contrast – What is different? What was your activity
level like, has it changed?

8. WHAT NOW?
•Amputation brings its own unique
challenges. Continue on to find out some
of the most common challenges and
strategies to overcome them

9. CONCERNS POST AMPUTATION: WEIGHT
GAIN
• Less physical activity, depression, side effects of medication,
and adjusting to a new lifestyle, including difficulty preparing
and shopping for food. Weight gain increases the stress that
prosthetics already add to your joints and can affect the fit of
your prosthesis, further reducing your ability to exercise, so it’s
important to take charge of your weight.

10. • Strategy: Acknowledge that you probably need fewer calories to
maintain your weight than you did before your amputation.
Choose smaller portions, eat snacks less, and cut back on
packaged and processed foods to decrease your overall intake.

11. • Strategy: Be mindful of why you eat. Do you reach for food
when you’re stressed, upset, or in pain? If so, pause and think
about what else you could do: call a friend, do some deep
breathing, or get some fresh air. Try other tools or apps to help
take control of your habits.

12. • Strategy: Pay attention to portions. Even if your plate is
perfectly balanced, you may be eating more than you need.
Take less; you can always go back for more if you are still
hungry. Pay attention to your body’s signals that you are full.
And stay hydrated; you can sometimes mistake thirst for
hunger.

13. ISSUE: WHAT SHOULD I EAT?
• Healthy eating for amputees is similar in many ways to healthy
eating for able-bodied individuals. Nutrition is critical to
maintaining a healthy weight, encouraging wound healing,
decreasing your risk of chronic disease, and fueling your
exercise and recovery. The types of food, combinations of food,
and portions all matter. If you have difficulty consuming meals
that are balanced and diverse speak to your healthcare
provider.

14. • Strategy: Eat real food. This sounds simple, but it can be
difficult when you’re surrounded by convenience food, fast
food, and packaged food. Choose unprocessed, whole foods
most of the time.
• Ingredient list should be ONE WORD/SHORT! Ex: “Chicken”,
“Carrots”, “Sweet Potatoes”

15. • Strategy: Aim for balanced meals. My Plate is an excellent visual
food guide. Fill half your plate with fruit and vegetables, a
quarter of your plate with protein from lean meats,
beans/lentils, or low-fat dairy products, and a quarter with
grains and starches that are high in fiber; whole grains are your
best bet. Include small portions of heart-healthy fats such as
those in fish, olive oil, avocado, and nuts/seeds.
• Carbs and Fats get a bad rap. They are essential

16. • Strategy: Eat a good variety of foods for wound healing. Among
the many nutrients that are essential for wound healing are
carbohydrates, protein, and polyunsaturated fatty acids;
vitamins such as C and E; and minerals, including iron and zinc.
Deficiencies in any of these nutrients have been shown to delay
healing. Eating a variety of foods will help you get enough of all
these vital nutrients.

17. FOOD PREPARATION
• The thought of eating a healthy meal may sound good, but
does the idea of planning, shopping, and preparing such a
meal overwhelm you? The ability to prepare foods may be more
difficult after an amputation due to physical barriers, limited
time given to medical appointments, and decreased motivation
because of depression, pain, and fatigue. The good news is that
there are lots of ways to improve your access to healthy food.

18. • Strategy: Plan ahead. We tend to stick with healthy choices
when they are easy and convenient. Plan your meals ahead of
time; this way you know you have the ingredients for a healthy,
balanced meal at home, and fast food won’t be so tempting.
And make a grocery list before you head to the store; it helps
you save time and money and curbs impulse buying.

19. • Strategy: Keep nutrient-rich foods on hand. Stock your freezer
with frozen fruit, vegetables, edamame beans, and individual
cuts of fish, chicken, and lean beef. Fill your pantry with canned
beans, packets of tuna, nuts, seeds, peanut or almond butter,
dried fruit, whole-wheat pasta, and whole grains such as brown
rice, quinoa, and barley.

20. • Strategy: Cook in batches. When you, family members, or
friends do cook, divide the food into individual portions you
can freeze. When you’re low on time or energy to cook, just
heat and eat for a quick and healthy meal.

21. LONG-TERM HEALTH ISSUES
• As mentioned, weight gain is a common issue for amputees.
Weight gain can increase your risk of infection, pressure ulcers,
osteoarthritis, and cardiovascular disease. With age, amputees
have increased incidences of hypertension, heart disease, and
diabetes.

22. • Strategy: Start heart-healthy habits now. Ways to reduce your
risk for heart disease include following a well-balanced eating
plan with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean
proteins, and healthy fats, being physically active, and staying
at healthy weight.

23. • Strategy: Focus on food. Concentrate on getting your nutrients
from food first. Supplements sometimes contain unknown or
unsafe ingredients that may interact with your prescription
medications or otherwise cause harmful side effects. Always
talk with your healthcare professional before taking
supplements.
• Supplements are exactly that…Supplement a healthy diet not
replacement